Am I infected?

Hello Dr.

I've been following this site for a month reading the topics postedand see if i can find a similar case of mine. My encounter was on summer 2006 with an asian street prostitue. We had protected sex and unprotected oral sex. When i was giving her oral sex i might have swallowed by mistake vaginal fluid. Could that increase the risk of getting infected? Another thing is that i brushed my teeth maround 3 hours before the infection and there is a chance that my gums could be bleeding by the time i was giving the oral sex.

After the encounter i had a diarhea (diarrhea) for 3-4 days and felt little warm, temprature was normal. and now after almost 6 months i started to get tinglings and numb feelings in my hands. Also from time to time i get lightheaded.

Im really worried becauase im living in a country where HIV positives get deproted to their countries  and so im really scared to get tested. Do you think doctor that i am infected or am i safe?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm sorry to sound harsh, but what do you see as unique about your exposure or symptoms?  I have repeatedly said that in the history of the world, there has never been a known case of HIV acquired by performing cunnilingus--and every episode of cunnilingus involves swallowing at least a little vaginal fluid. And common sense says that probably most people brush their teeth in the several hours after oral sex. I have said repeatedly that symptoms never are a reliable indication of new HIV infection.  And your symtoms (symptoms) don't suggest HIV anyway.

So you can safely be tested knowing the result will be negative.  And if you were to be found positive (which would have to come from some other exposure), you would need to go somewhere to get expert treatment--and I'll bet that any country that deports HIV positives is a bad place to get medical care for HIV.  So getting deported probably would be in your interest.

HHH, MD

[sooworried83]

Just wanted to add that at the end of thumb joint on my palm there is pain whenever my hands go numb

[sooworried83]

Thank you soo much Dr. for the reply, i feel bit relieved right now. I guess i got nervous as the test for HIV is getting closer to renew my work permit, although i read all the other posts about oral sex but my mind kept playing tricks with me as time passes by and started to surf more on the net and found symptoms that scared me to death.

Thank you soo much Dr. for the support and i'll be posting my test results when i do it. :)

[sooworried83]

Dr. you said that people normally brush their teeth after oral sex, did you mean before? if before wont a bleeding gum have more risk since the blood is in direct contact with vaginal fluid? Thats my last question

[txtony]

dude, relax, he knows exactly what you meant. cunnilingus is too too low risk that virtually is zero risk, symptoms dont mean anything. go to hiv support forum, you will many people with the same risks or riskier with symptoms and testing have overruled. really relax.. he knows what he is talking about.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

What txtony said.  Do not post any further comments here.