ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

Dr.

I was in a purported "high end" gentlemans club where a stripper inserted her fingers into another strippers vagina.  The stripper began to fondle my face with her fingers (I presume she had vaginal fluid on her hands).

The next day on the airplane ride home my eyes were red and itched.  The pressure in my ears was excruciating when landing.  My concern is my lymph glands were swollen causing pressure in my ears.

Two weeks later I noticed small rash on forehead.  Went to my board certified dermatologist and he stated it was actinic keratosis and treated with efudex.

At week four I was feeling very fatigued and still have earache.  I went to the Dr. and he said my t cell count is high.  I had them run a hiv test and it was negative.  He said the white blood count is high because I have some virus that is going around the city.  Said he saw 90 patients yesterday with the cold virus.  I don't have a fever or sore throat just fatigued with an intermittent cough.

I am concerned that by some freak of nature vaginal fluids entered my eye.  Your comments please.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the HIV forum.  Bottom line:  you have no worries about HIV.

You had an exposure that carried virtually no risk for HIV and you describe no symptoms that suggest HIV.  The initial symptoms had to be an allergy or minor viral infection, with symptoms exacerbated by altitude change and perhaps dry air in the airplane.  Enlarged lymph nodes do not do that.  And HIV symptoms cannot start less than 7-10 days after exposure.  If you caught anything during your adventure at the strip club, it was a cold, nothing more.

All is well.  You don't have HIV.  Return to your doctor if your symptoms persist or you otherwise remain concerned.

Regards--  HHH, MD

[maui123]

Thanks for your response.  I have read your resume and it is quite impressive.  Please bear with me for the follow up questions:

1)  My body temp the last two weeks has been between 97.0- 98.1.

2) Eye exposure- in your career do you have any knowledge of the virus spreading from finger (with vaginal fluid) to eyes.

I know this may seem redundant, but I would appreciate a brief comment on 1 and 2.  I'm a math guy so statistical responses are great.  Thxs and have a great day!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your temperature is normal.  There has never been known case of HIV transmssion by finger-eye contact.

Really, mellow out.  From a risk assessment or clinical perspective, you don't need HIV testing all.  You didn't catch HIV.  Take it to the bank.  

[bizzy410]

A related discussion, worried about hiv was started.