confused

Hi Doctor,
eight week ago had an encounter with an escort, brief unprocted oral and protected vaginal. I did have small cut on scrotum that was 3 days old. The next morning i was sick to my stomach, three days later developed rash on scrotum. I thought the rash was a yeast infection and started to use clotrimazole cream, the rash was improving on the fourth day however the fifth day my hands broke out in a rash, all of the hairy sections on the top of my hands were red as well as my palms, and palms were sweating all day long. I went to a doctor on 7th day and she said it was a yeast of fungal infection and persribed a cream, two days later after no improvement went to another doctor and she said its a combination of a yeast infection and nerves, these symptoms are still continuing at eight weeks. I have been to two dermatoligists and the both say it is eczema. Over the past eight weeks my hands have been sweating and bright red unless i am in cooler tempatures, the top part of my hands have cleared up. I have had diarreha from time to time along with a burning skin sensation around waist. I also had some white patches along my gums around week three. I had herpe test at 3 and 5 weeks with negative results, after they came back negative i became concerned about hiv, I had a DNA PCR at six week and clearview stat pak 1/2 at six weeks they were both negative, I did a home access at seven weeks still negative. My face breaks out with pimples everytime i shave and my skin seems to be sensitive to everything now. my hands are still getting red but are no longer sweating, i dont recall a fever, I did have a slight rash on shoulders the first and third week it looked more like hives. I have been worring about this for eight weeks now, and never sleep through the night any more. I did loose 10 pounds but have gained it back. Ive never had thes skin problems before, is this my nerves or is it worse- thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  You don't precisely state your question but I presume it is whether or not all of this could be HIV.   The answer is no.  I'll provide a more detailed explanation of why I say this now.

First, your exposure was very low risk. Most commercial sex workers do not have HIV and even most unprotected exposures do not lead to transmission of any STD, including HIV.  In your case, you used a condom  for vaginal sex which makes your risk lower still and virtually zero.  There is no risk of HIV from receiving unprotected oral sex.

Second, your initial symptoms began too soon to be HIV or other STD. There are no STDs that cause symptoms within a day or two after sex.

Third, you have been tested repeatedly with tests that would be positive if you had HIV. the tests are negative.  The combination of tests you've had conclusively prove that you do not have HIV.

You have now been examined by several trained physicians. Atopic dermatitis is not a sign of HIV and is quite common.  It can be influenced by many things, including stress,  That you have had this is a coincidence, nothing more.

I hope these comments are helpful.  You clearly do not have HIV and do not need to worry that you might. I hope that my comments provide you with reassurance on this issue. EWH

[AWWB]

Thank you Doctor,

If i may trouble you one more time, with all of the conflicting information on the web would the dna pcr and clearview stat pak picked up an infection at six weeks, i also did th home access test at & weeks, i believe that is a fia test. I have been having these symptoms now for 8 weeks, I would think if they were hiv related I should have tested positive. Would just like your professional opinion on this> thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are correct. The combination of tests you have taken, at the times you have taken provide definitive evidence that you did not get HIV from the exposure you have described. EWH

[AWWB]

Couple more questions, My main concern was the virus made contact with the cut i had, I know my test have all come back negative but i'm worried about the time frame that they were taken. My antibody tests were only fingure prick tests, are they as accurate.I'm really questioning this because i keep geting rashes all over and my mouth is always dry, i keep coming down with head colds, have muscle aches and am tired all the time. thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The finger prick tests must perform at the same standards as laboratory tests in order to be approved.  The results you have should be believed.  Your symptoms are not due to HIV. EWH

[AWWB]

One last question, given the fact i have never had any skin problems before and now have been having them for almost nine weeks( red blotches that burn on hands,feet, and face and burning pimples on legs) Should i continue testing or consider my test conclusive:
6 weeks clearview stat pak 1/2=negative
6 week PCR DNA (hiv1 only)= negative
7 week home access test (hiv1 only)= negative.

sorry to bother you again,

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You do not need further testing for HIV.  Your skin problems are due to something other than HIV.  If they are troubling you, I suggest you speak with a dermatologist.  EWH

[AWWB]

Hi doctor- Its been 11 weeks now, i still feel sick. At week 9 i had a fever of 105 that lasted a day, now my palms are still red, constantly feel sick and am very tired. I did another home access test  at 68 days, I know they use second generation elisa, are these accurate?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your tests were accurate before and they still are.  You need to shift your unwarranted cocnerns about HIV to finding out what is causing your symotoms.  They are not due to HIV. EWH