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HIV SYMPTOMS
Dear Dr.
I had unprotected vaginal intercourse exactly 2 weeks go for about 3 mintues and performed oral with her. I am hetero and do not use IV drugs, circumcized, and this was a one-time occassion. Since then, I have experienced a number of symptoms that seem to come and go. And from what I read, seem very much like what the symptoms are for the onset of HIV. The main one just recently is a tingling sensation in my right foot at the tips of my toes. This incident involved a woman that I don't even know that lives in my apt. complex... I am waiting to get my blood work back from my Dr. in the next couple of days since I just had it done. I have also been very stressed out about the idea of being HIV positive. What are the likely chances that these symptoms (and the tingling sensation in my feet) are from the incident i.e. also phlegm in my throat, fatigue, etc.
Thanks
I had unprotected vaginal intercourse exactly 2 weeks go for about 3 mintues and performed oral with her. I am hetero and do not use IV drugs, circumcized, and this was a one-time occassion. Since then, I have experienced a number of symptoms that seem to come and go. And from what I read, seem very much like what the symptoms are for the onset of HIV. The main one just recently is a tingling sensation in my right foot at the tips of my toes. This incident involved a woman that I don't even know that lives in my apt. complex... I am waiting to get my blood work back from my Dr. in the next couple of days since I just had it done. I have also been very stressed out about the idea of being HIV positive. What are the likely chances that these symptoms (and the tingling sensation in my feet) are from the incident i.e. also phlegm in my throat, fatigue, etc.
Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This answer will be brief. As I will discuss below, your risk of HIV from a single exposure are very, very low and I am confident that your symptoms are not due to HIV.
First your risk. The chances that your partner has HIV are less than 1% unless she is an IV drug user. In addition, your risk from a single act of unprotected vaginal intercourse is, on average, 1 infection per 1000 acts of intercourse (oral sex does not add any appreciable risk to this). Thus, on the basis of these two facts alone, your risk for HIV from the exposure you describe is less than 1 in 100,000. This is not something to be too worried about.
As for your symptoms, tingling in the toes is not a manifestation of early HIV infection or the so-called ARS. The symptoms of the ARS are like those of the flu and less than 1% of persons with flu-like symptoms who seek care for them have the ARS. Since many more people have these symptoms and do not seek medical care, once again, even if you had flu like symptoms, the probability that you have the ARS remains vanishingly low.
It is far more likely that the symptoms you describe are a manifestation of you anxiety and guilt. While your risk is very low, I suspect you would benefit from an HIV blood test, primarily for the peace of mind it will give you. At 4 weeks following the exposure about 90% of persons who have acquired HIV will have positive blood tests and at 8 weeks it is virtually 100%. Thus my advice to you is to get tested and, in the meantime, try your best not to worry. EWH
First your risk. The chances that your partner has HIV are less than 1% unless she is an IV drug user. In addition, your risk from a single act of unprotected vaginal intercourse is, on average, 1 infection per 1000 acts of intercourse (oral sex does not add any appreciable risk to this). Thus, on the basis of these two facts alone, your risk for HIV from the exposure you describe is less than 1 in 100,000. This is not something to be too worried about.
As for your symptoms, tingling in the toes is not a manifestation of early HIV infection or the so-called ARS. The symptoms of the ARS are like those of the flu and less than 1% of persons with flu-like symptoms who seek care for them have the ARS. Since many more people have these symptoms and do not seek medical care, once again, even if you had flu like symptoms, the probability that you have the ARS remains vanishingly low.
It is far more likely that the symptoms you describe are a manifestation of you anxiety and guilt. While your risk is very low, I suspect you would benefit from an HIV blood test, primarily for the peace of mind it will give you. At 4 weeks following the exposure about 90% of persons who have acquired HIV will have positive blood tests and at 8 weeks it is virtually 100%. Thus my advice to you is to get tested and, in the meantime, try your best not to worry. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, this is not a sign of early HIV. EWH
Dr,
one quick question,
another symptom
bad bacterial taste in my mouth and a small sore spot on the roof of my mouth. it's been almost 3 weeks since the incident. I have had drainage in my throat since the very next day since then. Probably allergies. But is this an early sign of HIV? Have you ever heard of anything like this?
one quick question,
another symptom
bad bacterial taste in my mouth and a small sore spot on the roof of my mouth. it's been almost 3 weeks since the incident. I have had drainage in my throat since the very next day since then. Probably allergies. But is this an early sign of HIV? Have you ever heard of anything like this?
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