[Question #12647] Pneumonia acute hiv

6 months ago

Hello. I am a female. My previous partner was tested hiv negative at the beginning of our relationship (don't know if its was within the window period or if he was unfaithful during our 3 month relationship, he doesnt like to use condoms in general). We used protection during vaginal sex but few times I performed fellatio (not rough) with no ejaculation. my concern is that at the time i had angular cheilitis, OUTSIde corner of my lips and might have come in contact with precum fluids. our last encounter was at 12/5. No other risk since then. On 19/6 I was diagnosed with mild pneumonia with mild fever and muscle aches and a low platelet at that time (the platelets on the two next blood counts were normal). I was tested with 4th generation at a lab at 6 months negative but I am still worried that this pneumonia event was related to acute infection.

1) Why were the platelets low at the time I had pneumonia? I read online that this might be a symtome of seroconversion. One week after the pneumonia on my visit to the hospital the platelets were normal. On January second test the platelets were within the normal range but WBC slightly under the range ((3700). 2) Should I retest?

3) why did I get pneumonia in June? Could I have been infected with precum in the external small wound of my mouth?

4) if the condom broke and he didn't realize? I am really stressed and keep thinking of it all the time.

5) if i was indeed infected with hiv would the platelets return to normal after initial infection or would they remain low?

Thank you, doctors.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions and your implied confidence in our service. I'll be glad to comment and hope that I can help resolve your concerns. I'm a bit unclear on the timeline of your own testing- when were you last tested?

It appears that you may have been reviewing health information on the internet. If so, I would urge you not to do so. Much of what is said there is incorrect either because if blows things out of proportion, is out of date, is taken out of context or is just plain wrong. It is quite difficult to determine what is correct and what is not. From the sound of things your risk of HIV is very, very low. If your prior partner was negative when your relationship began, its unlikely that he was in the "window" (this is very, very rare) or acquired infection during your relationship. Regarding your specific questions:

Low platelets are not at all uncommon when persons have pneumonia and are not a common sign of HIV seroconversion. If you had low platelets due to HIV, any HIV tests take at that time or later would be positive. Thus if you were tested since your pneumonia, there is no need for concern.

2) Should I retest?

Not from a medical perspective

3) why did I get pneumonia in June? Could I have been infected with precum in the external small wound of my mouth?

Your angular cheilitis would not predispose you to HIV acquistion. Persons get pneumonia all year long

4) if the condom broke and he didn't realize? I am really stressed and keep thinking of it all the time.

Very unlikely. When condoms fail, they break wide open and there would be no doubt that it failed.

5) if i was indeed infected with hiv would the platelets return to normal after initial infection or would they remain low?

They would remain low.

I hope this information is helpful. If there are additional questions, please don't hesitate to use your up to 2 follow-ups for clarification. EWH

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6 months ago

Thank you so much for your answer. I got tested hiv ag + p24 6 months from last time we were intimate (it was negative o,o7 value). Does that mean it is 100% conclusive? Sometimes I think "what if there was a mistake made in the lab, maybe it's better to retest? But then again I think that the value 0,07 shows that the test was at least performed" . How many chances are there that I have an erroneous result?

Also Doctor, if semen comes to contact with no bleeding at the time wound, small cut for instance, does that pose any risk? If a man ejaculates for instance on your hand and there is a small cut, can hiv enter in the bloodstream?

I dont recall having any open wounds, but in the extreme scenario I had an open wound and semen fell on it would that be possible?

Can hiv transmit if fresh semen comes to contact with a paper cut or superficial cut?

Thank you again.

6 months ago

Ps. is it true that WCB can ocassionally fall to healthy otherwise women slightly below the ranges (3700)?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

Your 6 month results are absolutely conclusive and should be believed. There is virtually no risk of your result being falsely negative or the lab making a mistake. I see no reason to re-test.

Contact of semen or other genital secretions with a recent cut, scape or open sore. HIV is not spread through the transfer of genital secretions to someone through transfer on a person's hands. The presence of a lesion would not change this.

Yes, healthy women can certainly have WBCs of less than 3700. In the absence of other signs or symptoms this is not a concern.

One follow-up remaining. EWH

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6 months ago

Thank you again. So this means I am 100% negative?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

6 months ago

Yes, your results are conclusive. Be confident that you do not have HIV.

This completes this thread which will now be closed. Take care. There should be no need to return to the Forum. EWH

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