[Question #9621] HIV symptoms
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31 months ago
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Hello, I have several questions on HIV symptoms that I like some clarification on. Unfortunately, I live in North Africa and HIV medicine here is very approximative when it comes to risk assessment. My background is that I'm a 30 yo man, unmarried and celibate. I'm not sexually active nor do I use IV drugs. Several weeks ago, as I was traveling to the USA, I had to go for a haircut ahead of a business meeting. This barber doesn't use razors like my barber here, but very small trimmers. I didn't realize anything at the time, but I know after the haircut I was not bleeding and the trimmer had no blood before or after the cut. There was signs of scratches (or cuts?) on my neck area pointed out by a coworker.
Now to the symptoms:
- 4 weeks after the haircut, I tested positive on covid ag, later confirmed with PCR. Could covid test detect HIV infection given the timeline of it? maybe it's the ag of HIV that's it's detected especially as I had no covid symptoms.
- 33 days after the haircut, I had some red spots appear on the back of my hands. about 5-6 spots on each hand, slightly itchy initially, resembling insect bites. This was accompanied by a sore throat lasting 1.5 days at day 36 that resolved quicker than the hands. These spots mostly healed except some that have left scars on the back of my right hand (now 5 weeks since). Could this be HIV ARS?
- About 8 weeks after the haircut, I developed a sore throat + some coughing and phlegm for a week. Is this too late for symptoms?
- Now, it's 10 weeks after the haircut, and I'm feeling generally fatigued. Like I'm very sleepy this past two days and I don't understand why. Is this any indication of HIV early symptoms?
I appreciate your advice, doctor, in this very hard time for me. Doctors here are confusing. One doctor said that I have no infectious disease risk from a haircut, while one other doctor insist that because of possible blood exposure, this is a significant risk similar to injection
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31 months ago
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Also, please indicate your view on what tests do I need to do to get to the bottom of this. I have not received good advice from my doctors on this.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
31 months ago
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Welcome to our form. Thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. Over the years we have received many questions regarding the risk of HIV as a result of nicks or scrapes occurring during a haircut. Our answers are always the same. There has never been a case of HIV proven to be acquired as a result of a haircut. You are not going to be the first period with that summary. Let me answer your specific questions:
1. The tests for COVID-19 and for HIV are very different. COVID-19 does not cause falsely positive tests for HIV and, conversely, HIV and the ARS do not cause falsely positive Covid test results. Your positive Covid test was the result of COVID not HIV.
2. The rash you describe and your sore throat in no way suggest the ARS. The ARS typically occurs less than 30 days after an event/exposure and always involves high fever, severe muscle or joint aches, and a severe sore throat. Some individuals have a rash, but that is not an essential part of the ARS. The symptoms you describe sound nothing like the ARS.
3. This is too late to be the ARS. The ARS typically occurs within 30 days of an event. The ARS would not occur eight weeks following acquisition of HIV.
4. Your fatigue and sleepiness are in no way suggestive of recently acquired HIV.
To summarize, given the fact that you are celibate and do not inject drugs, nothing you describe suggests any risks whatsoever for HIV. There is no reason for concern and no reason for testing.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If any part of my response is unclear, please use your opted to follow ups for clarification. EWH
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30 months ago
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Hello Dr. Hook,
Thank you for the great and thorough response. I find reassuring although I remain a bit concerned. I'm convinced with your answers on the COVID front and the latter sore throat.
However, regarding the red spots/rash. Is the timing of the symptoms what makes you confident it's not ARS or just the nature of them? I see some doctors quoting the 2-6 weeks range for onset of ARS and I wonder if I could be on the latter end of this onset. I'm particularly concerned because I never develop any sort of skin conditions like this and I find the coincidence particularly odd.
The other point is about the absence of cases of infections from haircuts. In fact, one of the doctors said that he thinks the exposure risk is significant and that there are people who got HIV from blood contact in haircuts. However, when looking up academic research on the topic in Google Scholar (I'm a scientific researchers), I only see random papers in Nigeria/Ethiopia with no proven cases, just speculation of risk. Can you confirm that you and Dr. HHH in your literature reviews and many HIV conferences have never seen cases in which people contracted HIV from barbershop trimmers during a haircut? Is there any credible research or source I can confront this doctor with?
I don't mean to doubt you dear doctor, sometimes I get confused with the language and want to make sure. I'm still experiencing significant fatigue and I'm unable to justify why it happens to me. Please, help me with your assessment
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
30 months ago
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I'm sorry that my responses were not reassuring. If you wish to prove that your rash and other symptoms were not due to HIV following your no risk exposure, then get tested. If your rash or symptoms were due to HIV, your test will be positive. I remain confident that your symptoms are unrelated to HIV or your haircut. Prove it to your self!!!
Regarding your repetitive question regarding the absence of proven cases of HIV acquisition due to barbershop exposures, yes, I can confirm that this is the case. If you prefer to believe one of the doctors that you spoke to, then test and you will find that you do not have HIV.
You need to stop worrying. EWH
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