[Question #5021] Chance of HIV infection

77 months ago

I am a heterosexual male. I was eating potato chips and ended up cutting the right side of my mouth on the outside deep enough that it started to bleed.

24 hours later I was involved in facesitting (smothering) where a female sat directly on my mouth and face. Her vaginal secretions ended up causing a stinging feeling where the outside corner of my mouth had been cut.

Fast forward 3 weeks to the day, I came down with a mild sore throat on the right hand side of my throat after a few days of sneezing. My nose is not runny and I son not have any chills or fever. The sore throat has been going on for 3 days

I looked at the back of my throat and can see one white/yellowish bump on my right tonsil I have read that peritonsillar abscess can be the only warning sign in a new HIV infection.

This has me concerned that it may be ARS. I have read that air kills HIV, but I am concerned that when I was being facesat for several minutes, I could not breath meaning that potentially vaginal fluids got in to my cut with out being exsposed to air.

I have no other symptoms (rash or fever). I have read that throat sores are an ARS symptom in rare cases. Would like to know the likelyhood of infection and need for testing. My partner stated that she uses condoms everytime she has intercourse ( I am also concerned as I have read that condoms are not 100% effective in preventing HIV transmission

Thank

You

Edward W. Hook M.D.

77 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. I'll do my best to help. The exposure that you describe was very, very low risk for acquisition of HIV and my guess is that your current sore throat is a coincidence. To provide a bit more detail on my reasoning:

1. Please remember that very few women who do not use IV drugs have HIV. Your partner reports that she regularly uses condoms making her risk for infection lower still.

2. Your exposure was essentially performing oral sex on her (i.e. cunnilingus). I am not aware of any cases in which HIV has ever been acquired through performance of oral sex on a female partner.

3. The cut on the inside your cheek does not change your risk.

4. Your symptoms are not those of the ARS. A defining component of the ARS is high fever, as well as muscle and joint aches. The yellowish bump on your tonsil is typical of what is seen when one has a pharyngeal infection (viral or bacterial) and does not suggest any specific type of infection. This is typical of the way tonsils react to all infections

While I see no medical reason for testing, I understand that you may find a negative test reassuring. If you choose to test, I an confident that the test will be negative and that a negative test at this time provides proof that your current symptoms are not the ARS.

I hope my assessment and comments are helpful. I would not be worried about this at all. EWH

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77 months ago

Thanks for the quick follow up. I’m assuming your answer will remain the same but just wanted to clarify that the cut was on the outside of my mouth ( the corner of my mouth if you will) and had a substantial amount of vaginal secretion in it. Just wanted to clarify that as I know that cuts on the inside

Of the mouth would be neutralized by saliva.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

77 months ago

Thanks for the clarification regarding the location of the cut. You are correct however that this in no way changes my assessment or advice. EWH---