So worry about my risk behaviour in the past-dying

[Zhang255]

Dear Dr HHH

Let me give you my background:
34 old male, striaght, circumcised,  married with kid, never use drugs, never engage anal sex, never receive blood transfusion.

This high risk event happend more than 10 years ago (1999 summer) in the South East China.  I was still a virgin at that time.  I had dated with a young girl (~ 3 mo) and we had ~4-5 unprotected vaginal sex and couple time unprotedted oral sex.  I never do oral sex on her.  She looked healthy to me and didn't look like a IDU.  Later on, friend of mine told me she was a CSW and she admitted that.  I didn't experience any flu-like symptom after all encounters that but I did experience once: tingling and skin peeling on my penis head couple days after the sex.  My GM thought it was a penile yeast infection, he mentioned to me that it often happen to men when their partners use pills.  The symptom went away after I applied some cream/lotion on it.  HIV wasn't on my mind at that time because I was so naive to think that HIV is western disease. In fact, the prevalence of HIV in China was low in 1999.

Then I had a new relationship with another girl ( my wife now), we have been for almost 10 years (no other female partner since then). She is -ve.  HIV came to my mind until couple years ago when I read the news headline saying that heterosexual is the main route for HIV transmission in China.  I was so terrified by that time.  I through I could be the one.  From that time, everytime I get sick with fever, I teleoscoped the symptoms to AIDS.  I knew I act so crazy.  I even did not have sex with my wife for 2-3 years because I am so affraid I have hiv which will eventually infect her.  I am so afraid to get test not because of the death notice, because she will leave me if I am +ve.
I know that blood test will tell me the truth story but.... I am so silly.  I think that I am not the men.
DR HHH, based on your experience in std clinic, what do u think the odd I have hiv?

Greatly appreciate

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

A high proportion of Chinese have asymptomatic tuberculosis, regardless of HIV status, so there's nothing unusual in your positive skin test.  And the nurse was wrong or you misunderstood:  people with HIV do not catch TB more easily; the problem is that TB is more aggressive and harder to treat in the presence of HIV.  In a way this is good news:  if you had HIV, probably you would have become ill from active TB, so this makes it even less likely you have HIV.

No more advice or comments unless and until you report your HIV test result.  But in the meantime, stop worrying about it. You can expect a negative result.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This question should have been in the HIV prevention forum, not this one.  See the prominent message at the top of the forum.  But it seems to have been an innocent error and will be moved.

It is exceedingly unlikely you caught HIV during your sexual exposure in 1999.  Not only was the risk low, even with a CSW partner; but if you had HIV for 10 years, most likely you would have been very ill by now, possibly dead.  But since you are frightened by the possibility, have an HIV test to prove it to yourself.  You are absolutely correct that it is "silly" not do do so.

Feel free to return to post a follow-up comment reporting your negative HIV test result.  Until then, I will have no further comments or advice.

HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I cannot judge the chance you might have asymptomatic STDs.  Definitely you do not need testing for gonorrhea or chlamydia; they cannot last 10 years.  There is no test for HPV (and you can assume you have had it anyway -- every sexually active person catches HPV at least once).  If you wish, you could have a blood test for HSV.  While you're at it, a syphilis blood test would also be a good idea.  Most likely the results will be negative.

Thanks for the thanks about the forum.  But that will have to be all for this thread.  Take care.

[Zhang255]

Thanks for your encouragment. Dr HHH.  This forum is really helpful.

Feel like I just recover from illness.  Feel so good now! : )

One last question for this thread is:
Do you think I need to test for other STD like: HPV, HSV,  Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea.  Since I have been sexually inactive for couple years and neither my wife nor I have had the symptoms related to those nasty bugs, except that I had tingling and skin peeling on my penis back to year 1999 (see above my original Q 1).  I understand that symptom means nothing, but do you think I may have those bugs (or others) in my body?

Many thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Of course the only person surprised by that result is you!  But congratulations.  This whole episode should fade into a minor event in your life.

[Zhang255]

Hi! Dr HHH

I did the test this Monday.  Just get the result today!

HIV1/2 Ab EIA    negative
Syphilis EIA       negative

Glad that I took the test.  I can have a good sleep tonight.

Thanks

[Zhang255]

sorry Dr HHH, I am new to this forum and I didn't pay attention the the message, my bad!

One very quick follow up, I was diagnosed this year that I had latent TB based on my TST (20 mm) and blood test because of the pre-requirement of my occuptation.  My Chest X-ray was clear without any sign of disease. (what the Dr's letter said).  I am on INH now.

However, the nurse told me that ppls with HIV/AIDS will more easily to get TB .  That made me so worry again since I might have hiv in my body.  

PS:  I think I exposed to TB from my dad when I was very young, I recalled that my dad diagnosed with TB in 1970's and we were living in a high TB prevalence area.