Doctors, I am coming back to you because my wife’s fingernail problem remains unresolved and has even gotten worse since my last correspondence. The ID doctor that examined her finger nail sent her to a bone specialist who then sent her to a dermatologist. The dermatologist ordered biopsies on three infected fingers because she suspects that the fingers are infected by fungi but would like to rule out cancer. I am very concerned that a fungal infection on three finger nails is very unusual and may indicate immunosuppression as a result of HIV disease. Does HIV sometimes lead to severe fungal nail infections? Otherwise, my wife remains healthy with no fevers, severe tiredness, swollen glands, loss of appetite, weight loss, etc. Desperate for your advice. Thanks.

Welcome back, but I'm sorry you found it necessary. I reviewed your previous discussion with Dr. Hook and agree 100% with his advice. As he advised, ou have some misunderstandings about HIV and the medical conditions that result from immune deficiency due to HIV. Paronichia and  fungal infections of the fingernails or toenails are not among them. And if your wife's ID doctor thought HIV was a possible issue, he would have had her tested. In addition to all this, as Dr. Hook told you, your risk of HIV from the sexual events outside your marriage were very low risk for HIV and it is extremely unlikely that you are infected. And if you're not infected, neither is your wife (assuming she has not also had some extramarital sex).

If you choose not to believe the advice I have provided, I suggest you test for HIV to prove to yourself that you were not infected. I am confident that if you test, the test results will show that you are not infected.

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