[Question #12333] Hiv

8 months ago

Hello Drs. I need help. I had sex with a sex worker with a condom July 6th and a couple days later I started to get paranoid about HIV because I saw what look like a rash on my chest. And after a couple of weeks worrying I took a insti quick test at August 13 and it was negative. I felt relieved until 2 days later then I started to get sick a fever bad cough and night sweats that really freaked me out. I took a 4th Gen test September 3 negative and took another 4th generation test September 19th negative again and I took a final inti quick test November 11 negative I was finally over it but now I have bleeding gums and I've always had off and on gingivitis but I heard HIV can cause that so now I'm back worring again I just need help.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

8 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in our services. Your worries are over — you do not have HIV.

First, the exposure described was virtually zero risk. Second, HIV symptoms cannot start sooner than 7-8 days after exposure. Third, your symptoms actually don’t fit with HIV at all. Finally and most important, HIV tests always are positive if symptoms are due to HIV; and your September 3 negative result was 100% additional proof.

In the future, always ignore symptoms; they almost never are useful indicators of new HIV infection; every symptoms you will find listed as associated with HIV far more often has other causes. Rely ONLY on HIV test results, which always overrule both exposure history and symptoms. No matter how high the risk and no matter how typical the symptoms, HIV test results tell the truth.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn’t clear.

HHH, MD

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8 months ago

Thank you dr I also had these weird bumbs appear on my chest and is it true that if you have HIV you can get gum disease my gums have been sore and bleeding. And 4th generation is what I took so should be conclusive and the night sweats is what worryied me first and the sickness started on August 15 could that have been ars ?

8 months ago

And muscle aches

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

8 months ago

After my comments above, what do you think my response will be? It is proved you never had ARS and do not have HIV. Any and all symptoms you have now or anytime in the future cannot possibly be caused by HIV, assuming you do not have another potential exposure to the virus. Accept the science. If these symptoms continue or others appear and/or you remain concerned, see a doctor to look into the actual causes. They also are not due to any other STD; you have no infection from the sexual exposure you have been concerned about. If they are related to that event, it is the result of anxieties over it, not to any physical illness.---
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8 months ago

I'm sorry dr handsfield I didn't mean to make you ill. It's just been a tough 5 months. Could you just tell me what the typical symptoms are and when is a 4th generation conclusive I know my last test was at 75 days so I know I'm good. I'm also gonna let this go. I'm a big follower of your work so thank you for your help as well. Also coughing is not a symptom right ?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

8 months ago

Your HIV test results already are conclusive: it is 100% certain you were not infected with HIV.

The main symptoms of ARS are sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes usually most prominent in the neck, skin rash, and fever; fatigue also is common, also muscle aching. Symptoms typically begin 10-20 days after exposure and last 2-3 weeks, i.e. gone entirely within 4-6 weeks. Cough and cold symptoms, like nasal drip or congestion, are NOT part of ARS. Half of all newly infected persons never notice any symptoms. All these symptoms are "nonspecific, i.e. they usually do NOT point to HIV. Other conditions are far more common causes of the exact same symptoms. This is why symptoms of new HIV infection should be ignored: rely only on blood tests to know whether or not you might have HIV.

I do hope these comments indeed help you to "let this go". Thank you for your kind comments about our services. Best wishes and stay safe.

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