Possible Exposure - Very Dumb!

Thank you so much for getting back to me Dr. Jose. I really appreciate you taking the time. Would certain HIV symptoms begin after one week post infection? Reason I ask is I felt tenderness in one gland under my jaw bone and developed what appears to be a small / raw sore just at the corner of my mouth and one just inside my nose. The doctor I saw said that it could be angular cheilitis (possible iron deficiency - but I eat a lot of meat, so don't think it's this) and completely ruled out herpes. I asked him how he was so sure it wasn't herpes, to which he replied "because I'm a doctor, I would know". He prescribed an ointment called Fucidin that I applied a few times a day. Both small sores disappeared in a little over a week. My question is, could this be an early sign of HIV infection (after 8 days exposure they started)? I'm at the 29 day mark now, almost 4weeks and this is the only symptom I seem to have. Also, would you be able to explain to me exactly what an HIV duo test is and can I really consider it accurate after 28days? The doctor I visited told me that he wouldn't test me until I hit the two month mark, because anything before that would be severely inconclusive. Sorry for taking so much of your time, but I really am going crazy ... I have already taken the tests for syphillis (syphilis), gonoreah and chlamydia and thankfully I am negative.

[Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia, MD, MRCGP, PhD]

Hello,
Thank you very much for your new post.
The symptoms you describe sound much more like impetigo, which is a bacterial skin infection, as they responded very quickly to fucidin, which is an antibiotic cream and would have not been effective in treating herpes.  The doctor you saw would have been able to identify a herpetic outbreak as it has a very characteristic painful blistery rash.  The early symptoms that you had after one week are not typical at all of acute HIV sero-conversion; first of all one week is far too early to get any symptoms and secondly, it is not a typical symptom anyway.  Acute HIV sero-conversion symptoms are very non-specific and they could be symptoms of many other conditions.  However the vast majority of people would have severe symptoms lasting 7-10 days anytime between two and six weeks following the original infection, including a high fever, malaise, severe sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes all over the body, a rash, night sweats, etc.
As you have already passed the 28 day window period, you would be able to take a HIV Duo test, which tests for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in combination with the p24 antigen.  If all these parameters are negative, the result is conclusive with a reliability of over 99.98%.  The test that your Dr is referring to is the antibody test on its own, not the Duo test.
Best wishes,
Dr. José

[dummy2010]

Thank you so much Dr. Jose. You are really putting my mind at ease. Still stressed about the whole situation, but feel a little better after your analysis of my situation. This forum is incredible. Such a great thing to have available for people trying to find answers about such a scary topic. You people are truly brilliant, thank you for your time.