Subtype E?

Hello all, i am currently awaiting wednesday and the results of my test very anxiously. I have read on here though about this subtype E or whatever it is now referred to and it has made me even more anxious, if not a little sceptical. The doctors here seem to pass off questions about it, which makes me think they cannot be overly concerned about a dramatically increased risk? I had a one time exposure with a thai sex worker when very drunk which has taught me a very harsh lesson. Just hope things will be ok?

[regularjoey]

There is no good clinical evidence that subtype E poses "dramatically increased risk".

[sparky1927]

So my one time exposure, with no symptoms of ars, still had the odds in my favour that things will all come back ok?

[regularjoey]

Yes, the odds are highly in your favor.  I am sure that you are fine.  

[sparky1927]

Ah thanks mate, you just kinda need someone to put things into perspective when your this close to the results. There have been times when i have convinced myself i must have it you know. hearing supportive words form people like yourself is invaluable. If all comes back negative wednesday i have decided i am determined to make it change me for the better.  

[sparky1927]

Hey mate, sorry me again! Just looking at the risk if this supposed subtype e does have increased risk. Would i be right in saying that if we took the estimate that say 1 in 10 sex workers in thai had hiv and multiplied it as say a conservative 1 in 100 (transmission per sex acts) this would give the chance of being infected at say 1 in 1000?

[slov_scared]

Please tell me, I am in very much a worry, is there known any case of subtype E in Europe????

[slov_scared]

Please tell me, I am in very much a worry, is there known any case of subtype E in Europe????

[regularjoey]

sparky: the odds the CSW had HIV are closer to 1%.  The odds of getting it from a one-off are closer to 1:2000.  So your odds would be 1:200 000.  That's very low, expect a negative on your test.

slov: of course there is subtype E in Europe, you must have heard of globalisation before?  It is not a predominant subtype in Europe, subtype B is.

[sparky1927]

The Dr here estimates that the chance a CSW in thailand will have HIV is 5% (1 in 20). I appreciate that this doesnt really affect the fact that the chance is low. so you still think even with subtype E the risk per exposure would be upwards of 1 in 1000. Thanks for your help tonite regularjoey!!!!!!! Making my life a lot less anxious

[slov_scared]

oh my! is it true? teak said it wasn't even a subtype..... i am really screwed up than !:(( ps: i study globalisation as I am last year in study economics. or at least i was.....as now i wait my pos 6months result and my life's a mess.

[regularjoey]

sparky: OK, so it is 5%.  The point is that she most likely was negative, and the odds of getting it during a one-off are very low even if she was.  

slov: Stop obsessing with subtypes!  They are all more or less the same when it comes to transmission.  There is nothing special that is known about subtype E (or CREF A/E if you want to get technical with me) or any other subtype of HIV.  The whole "subtype" theme is used purely for classification purposes by epidemiologists and evolutionary biologists, there is no known medical difference between subtypes.  You could have more differences between two subtype B strains than you do between a subtype B and a subtype E strain.  

[slov_scared]

Actually 2months ago I had no idea subtype E exist, but now I am scared of it since i had all symptoms and my 14week elisa was negative. Also, my exposure seems to be of low risk for B,but for E is high. Now mix togheter my HBV with my elisa test HIV (not detecting subtype E) and you'll see why i'm getting tehnical....or just very scared...

[sparky1927]

Hey again mate, new day, one day closer to getting the results. lol. obviously that means one more day of working myself up. So you really don't lay much weight behind this subtype stuff? I wish i could share your confidence in my results mate!