Whats happening to me?

[samooli]

dr. I had sex outside my marrage 3 times only. the first was early last year but since tested twice and both came -ve. the second time was october but that doesn't worry me becuase I never penetrated the CSW becuase I was soo stupid and forgot the to bring the condoms. the third was condom protected vaginal sex with csw around 4 months ago and i have suffered from every symptom in the book from fever to vomiting and diarriah to swallen lymph node that is presisting and worrying me. i have been told by many that symptoms mean nothing and that I dont even need testing becuase the sex was protected but i just have a fdeeling that i might have it dr?? what are my chances doctor and do my symptoms fit the bill they came aroud a month after that last incedent the fever lasted for 2 days only and the cold like symptom for around two weeks the vomiting for one day or two only and the lymph niode came on much later. can you help me with your insight and knoldge dr as I am really scary as iam a married guy with two children and I will never forgive myself for giving anything to my wife.

[samooli]

Hi Dr. i just came from hospital and I performed the test. I am really depressed and the lymph noide is still swallen for more thatn a month oand more now. I am really scared and I really hope that in three days time when i collect my results they are -ve?
I will post you the results as soon as i get them. and thank youy again for your beutyfull work on this website.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Lymph nodes swelling is quite a non-specific finding and, if it is present, in your situation it is unlikely to be related to HIV.  EWH

[samooli]

I am relly sorry for my bad english. I meant to say I hope that my test next week will be -ve :)

[samooli]

Thank you Dr. for your assurance and I will do as you asked and test next week. What is really scaring me is a pressetant lymph node just on that has been bothering me for a while I hope that this is not a symptom of hiv and that my test is -ve will be -ve next week.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Both from your description of our exposure (primarily) and from the tone of your query, I suspect that your risk is very close to zero.  Most commercial sex workers are not HIV infected and even if your partner did have HIV, the risk for HIV from a single condom protected exposure is less than 1 infection in a million exposures.  Thus I agree with all before me who have said you are not at risk and do not need testing, at least from a medical perspective.  On the other hand, if you are worried, go on and get a test.  Following an exposure about 4 months ago, a negative HIV test, which is what I am confident yours will show, will prove that you did not get HIV from the exposure you mention.  

As for your symptoms, the onset of symptoms you mention is too late to be typical or the acute retroviral syndrome (ARS).  The symptoms of the ARS are TOTALLY non-specific and when people experience "ARS symptoms" they are much more likely to have something else, usually some other, more typical virus infection.  When this has been studied in the US, less than 1% of persons seeking medical care for "ARS symptoms" are found to have HIV, the remainder having symptoms due to other processes. In contrast, over a given year, there is almost no one who has not had a viral illness, night sweats or both (sometimes on multiple occasions).  In addition, it is also important to realize that many persons who acquire HIV do not experience the ARS.  For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.

Bottom line, get tested for your peace of mind, and then believe the results. I am confident that you will find that you do not have HIV from the exposure you describe.  EWH