frustrated

[concerned678]

by concerned678, Jul 16, 2011 01:07PM by concerned678, 9 hours ago Dr Have a very frustrating situation, hoping for reassurance. Visited red light district prostitute on 6/3 , had protected oral, she then got on top, protected vaginal. Only about 2 min. Finished me off then got up removed condom. Inn place and in tact. Here is the scary part , about 4 weeks later I started to get sunburn like rash across trunk and on outside of arms itchy red and white heads on arms. I live in florida , have been going to beach, spray suntan oil and extreme heat so was not thinking anything of rash which was thousands red pin head bumps on arms. During time I had no fever but had been feeling kind of down and tired. Then on 6/9 got night sweat woke with 96 . 7 temp.I read your explanation of true night sweat/ fever and am a little confused  And then had minor scratchy sore throat couple days . Had another warm feeling night a couple days later but again woke to low temp. am I correct that if these were ars symptoms / rash fever would have been high?? Now skin clear but afraid ars rash came and went. Had thoroughcheck at clinic on 12th. No nodes butt can't get past HIV fear. Took full spectrum test including hiv but won't be back for 3 Weeks so very anxious . Does this sound like it was ars , need to worry,? Clinic nurse said don't worry but even though no fever on thermometer. Temps have been low throughout, never fever. Does this mean not true night sweats. I know the common sense thought was no risk but I would appreciate your reassuance regarding risk and symptom explanations. Thanks please answer Dr hhh

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There is a distinction to be made between the medical use of the term "night sweats" which refers to drenching sweating which occurs in conjunction with very high fevers and with merely sweating at night which occurs in looks of people for a variety of reasons including too many blankets, heartburn and pther normal physiological processes.

Again, there is nothing you have described that raises concern.  eWH

[concerned678]

Please clarify above guote,  since I woke under heavier blankets to a low body temperature. Would this not pertain to Dr hhh no fever no night sweat explanation
Thanks so much

[concerned678]

True night sweats occur only when there is fever, usually pretty high fever. The sweats occur when the fever breaks during the night. If you don't have fever, your night sweats do not indicate infection with HIV or anything else. To my knowledge, night sweats never are the only symptom of ARS. And no, ARS symptoms generally do not come and go

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  The exposures you describe- condom protected oral and vaginal sex, are no risk for HIV.  Condom protected sex is safe sex. Furthermore, you do not know that your partner had HIV and in fact, it is statistically unlikely that she did.  If your encounter occurred at a German brothel, these establishments typically take care as well to test their workers regularly an to enforce safe sex (condom use) making these sorts of exposures probably lower risk events than picking up a partner of unknown status in a bar.  

The symptoms you describe have some of the characteristics of early HIV infection - rash and fever are part of this syndrome. BUT, so are muscle aches, diarrhea and high fevers. Thus your symptoms really do not make the criteria for the ARS. Further and perhaps more importantly, even among persons who are at risk (you are not), most symptoms compatible with the ARS turn out to be simply due to a plain old, every day viral infection of the sort that people get all the time.  

Your symptoms are really not something to worry about as they relate to the low risk exposure you describe.  In fact, they do not even raise a medical need for HIV testing.  

I hope my comments are helpful.   EWH

[concerned678]

Redness was all over flushing like sunburn or heat. No paupules but now gone. Have not been to beach as much recently did not freak until sore throat / I guess untrue night sweat