ARS Question

[mvp93]

Hi Doctor,

Thanks for the service you are providing.  I had one time unprotected vaginal sex with a female.  First time in 12 years unprotected.  It was a one night thing, and she claimed to have only been with 4 prior partners with no STD's, but who knows.  3 1/2 days after I experienced the worst diarrhea ever (water only) for about a week.  Also 3 1/2 days after I suffered from high fever and really bad chills for about 2-3 days.  I was still low energy for another 2 days too.  

I understand that ARS symptoms typically take 2-4 weeks to manifest.  My question is, I had very little sleep the night of the occasion, and did not sleep well the next couple of nights either, and was wondering if because of that my immune system was a bit down and that could be a reason the ARS symptoms could have shown so soon? I am an otherwise very healthy 40 year old.

Also this was on a trip to Mexico, and the symptoms showed up the day after my return so I am aware I could have gotten some bug over there.  Also about a week after the incident after I had a small red bump on my penis that never bubbled or popped or anything.  Not sure if this could be HIV related.  I do plan on going in for testing for all STD's, HIV included.

Thanks in advance!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. Even before I comment on your symptoms, let me remind you how unlikely it is that you got HIV from a single exposure.  It is unlikely that your partner had HIV an even if she did, your risk of becoming infected from a single exposure is less than 1 in 1000.

As for your symptoms, they came on too soon to be HIV.  That you were tired at the time of exposure would not affect your risk for infection in any way.  Furthermore we have made repeated statements on the Forum that 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). For a person to try to judge their HIV risk based on "ARS symptoms" is a waste of time.  In your own case, this occurred during a visit to Mexico where it is far more likely that your diarrhea was due to something you ate or drank than to HIV

Testing for STs, including HIV is always a goo idea.  Your risk for HIV however is miniscule.

Take care.  EWH

[mvp93]

A related discussion, ARS Question was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I did not misunderstand your question.  Being run down would not accelerate the appearance of the ARS.  EWH

[mvp93]

Thanks so much for your input.  Just one more comment and then I'll be gone.  You may have misunderstood part of my question.  I did not think being run down would affect my catching HIV, but was concerned that the fact I was run down could have been the reason possible acute hiv came in 3 1/2 days.  I understand that is typically too fast to be ARS, but did not know if that fact that I was on very little sleep for the few days after the possible exposure, that would have allowed the symptoms to appear earlier than usual.  Thanks again!