ARS Symptom

Dear Dr. Hook, Dr. Handsfield,

Three weeks ago I performed unprotected oral sex on a woman (unknown HIV status). I have receding gums & at the time I had a small sore along the gum line at on the towards the back of my mouth (also my mouth might have been somewhat dry at the time). To add to this we engaged in frottage.

My concern is that approx 3 weeks following this even I developed a slight dry cough for approx half a day followed by an irritated/sore throat as well as 2 bouts of diarrhea on the same night (48 hours later - no fever or rash).

My questions are as follows; could this be ARS related and based on this exposure should I be tested for HIV?

Thank you both (dearly) in advance.

Sam

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to our forums. My response to you starts with the response I made several months ago. There is no risk of getting HIV from oral sex or frottage   in the unlikely circumstance that your partner had HIV.  

The symptoms you describe are non-specific and lack some of the other characteristics of the ARS (fever, rash, severe muscle and joint aches) and suggest that you have caught some other community acquired, non-STD, non- HIV viral infection.   there is no medical reason for testing. If you choose to do so, a negative test a week after the onset of symptoms is proof that the symptoms you experienced are not due to HIV. That said, I still see no medical reason for testing.

Take care.  EWH

[sambccan88]

Dear Dr. Hook,

Thank-you. I am one like many here who is (currently) having a difficult time. I have read many of your posts, the good you do here is off the scales for so many who otherwise would not be able to function due to ignorance/fear & anxiety. You might never know the true extent as to how much you have helped us all in making the right decisions regarding both safer sex practices & getting tested.  Understandably this must become tiresome at times but to those who are like me you have attended not only to our physiological concerns but also to our mental well being.

Best to you,

Sam

P.S. Your bedside manner is impeccable (I have a family member who is a nuc med radio & he could learn a thing or two from you).

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Gald to help.  Take care. EWH

[sambccan88]

Dear Dr. Hook,

Please forgive me, I have one last question. With respect to ARS I have read conflicting reports; some claim a sore throat can be the only symptom while others state if ARS symptoms appear they do so in a group.

Your thoughts on this?

(I'm not second guessing your evaluation of my concern although admittedly, since this sore throat has not manifested itself in the usual way colds do for me, I am still a wee bit worried.)

Gratefully yours,

Sam

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As I said earlier, the ARS syndrome is non-specific and to try to associate an isolated sore throat with risk for HIV is a terrible waste of time and energy.  If you just stop to think about it, is there anyone who, in retrospect, moight not remember a little bit of a sore throat in the past 2 or 3 weeks?  You should move forward and not let your sore throat worry you.  EWH

[sambccan88]

Thank-you (again) I wish I could change who I am, my anxiety is not by choice. Your words have helped me greatly.

Best,

Sam

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care.  EWH

[sambccan88]

Dear Dr. Hook,

I went with your suggestion & had an HIV test to rule out the symptoms I described being caused by ARS - however in Canada where I live I could not find anywhere that offered the DUO test.

Instead at 5 wks, 3 days post exposure I had a Biolytic Rapid Test done which turned up negative. This would have been 2 wks, 3 days since the onset of my sore throat & approx 1 wk+ since my night sweats.

My (2) questions are: (1) would the Biolytic Rapid Test offer early detection capabilities in line with the other (7-8 day results) antibody detection, tests available & (2) what percentile of people who were pos would have been detected at the 5 wk, 3 day mark?

This will be my final question. Thank you for your patience & kindness.

Best,

Sam

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If your sore throat which begain two weeks earlier had been due to HIV, your test would have been positive at that time you were tested, more than two weeks after it began.

At a little over 5 weeks about 90% of HIV infections would have been detected by standard antibody testing such as you had.

Take care.  EWH

[sambccan88]

Sorry Dr. Hook, I'm still not clear on 1 thing, my test was a Biolytic Rapid Test, not the standard antibody test (unless of course a rapid test fits this description, in which case I apologize for my misunderstanding) - does the rapid test match the standard antibody test for early detection?

This will be my final question, I will not bother you again.

Thank you again.

Kind regards,

Sam

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If the test was an approved test it is a standard HIV antibody test.  It does not matter whether the format of the test was for rapid testing or laboratory-based testing in terms of the significance of the result.  EWH