Sore throat

Dear Dr. Cummings,
With reference to the "Triad" of symptoms mentioned on your page, how sore does the sore throat need to be (can hardly speak and swallow, or just vaguely irritating) and how high does the fever need to be, to be indicative of a possible infection?
How would you rate the following symptoms after intercourse with a prostitute (but condom-protected)?
Cough and sneeze starting 10 days after, sore throat starting 13 days after but lasting until today (19 days after the incident).  Not really painful, but annoying.  No fever as such: highest temperature was 36.9 axillary mid-morning.  No visible rash apart from a few spots on my chest, common enough with my skin and possibly result of 2x 1g azithromycin doses given as a precaution by my doctor 7 days after the incident (although urethral tests subsequently showed no common STDs).
I will do a duo test at 28 days but it would be good to have your opinion on the worrying sore throat.
Many thanks
Profoundreform

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

Hello,
Thank you for your post.  I am going to answer your question, instead of my colleague, Dr Cummings.
Acute sero-conversion symptoms are non-specific and they can be symptoms of hundreds of other conditions.  However the majority of people who are sero-converting suffer quite severe symptoms for a few days, severe sore throat with a high fever, with malaise.
Regarding your sexual encounter, the fact that you used a condom makes it compeltely safe and completely risk free in regards of HIV infection, provided the condom remained in place and did not brake.  Therefore I do not believe that your symptoms have anything to do with HIV.  Besides even they are non-specific symptoms, they seem to be far too mild to be related to acute HIV seroconversion.
Best wishes,
Dr José

[profoundreform]

Dr Jose, one follow-up question, if that is permitted.  If a clinic is offering a combined antibody/antigen test can I assume that it is conclusive at 28 days?  Or do I need to ask whether it is specifically the 4th gen/P24?  I would prefer to come to your clinic, of course, but it is unfortunately not possible.  Many thanks.

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

Hello again,
All the tests that include the p24 antigen in addition to the antibodies are considered to be 4th generation tests and are fully conclusive afer 4 weeks following the exposure.
Kind regards,
Dr José

[halfoldman]

pl on behalf of readers, please could you answer this question. DOES THE P24 PART OF THE DUO TEST ALSOTAKE HIV 2 INTO ACCOUNT AS WELL? I DO KNOW THAT THE ANTIBODY PART OF THE DUO DOES, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE P24 ANTIGEN... IS P24 ALSO PRESENT IN HIV2 ?

[ParisParis]

A related discussion, HIV symptoms was started.