incidence with sex worker

[scaredtap]

Dear Dr,

Around 5 weeks ago i've visited Austrian high class night bar were i had protected sex (condom used) and i gave her an oral unprotected sex (cunillingus) that lasted around 5 minutes.

9 days later i got a sore throat while working out in gym, and next day it started my classical problem with sinuses and caugh. I don't know wetehr my lymphs were swollen. It does happen to me often since i have sinusitis...but this time antibiotics were not helping much, it gone after 6 days wth caugh remaining. I started training again and caugh remained for longer time. Now i have a nightmare wether i might got infected with hiv.

I know this girl (sex worker) from the seaside in my country, she is nice. I asked her about HIV possibility later and she told me they have to get tested often (such Law in Austria) for STD's and that she is clean.

However symptoms really bugged me since my real girlfriend who i love very much got sore throat 5 days after my symptoms started. Her sore throat gone in 4 days. She is usually never ill. She performes often unprotected felatio on me.

What are the chances i got infected from this sex worker?
I've read that this is a low risk, but what do You think about the risk in this specific situation?
Should i got tested?
Did i also put my girfriend in danger now?

Thank You so much

deadly worried

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You don't get it, do you?  If "There is no realistic risk you got infected" (my original response), then nothing else can make any difference, can it?  And no, antibiotic treatment doesn't modify the risk.

HHH, MD

[scaredtap]

Thank You doctor for calming me regarding this. One small question. Is it possible to increase risk over infection in my case if antibiotics were used recently which may reduce immune system response?? Prior to the case i used Azythromicine bcs of some leg infection.

[skerdstraght68]

Oral sex is almost non existant HIV + or -

[VTStallion]

Would you still recommend no testing if someone knew that woman was HIV+ and they performed oral sex on her?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The rash on your wrists doesn't change my evaluation or advice.

HHH, MD

[scaredtap]

oh yes I forgot to tell, I had a rash on my wrists...i usually have the rash bcs of sweat but this one was very strong.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You caught a cold, then probably gave it to your girlfriend.  Nothing more.  You might have caught the cold from the sex worker, but probably not; cold symptoms usually begin within 4-5 days.  Your symptoms do not suggest HIV, which does not cause either sinus symptoms or cough.  In any case, you had safe sex, because a condom was used (zero risk) and oral sex isn't really a risk at all.  On top of all that, your commercial partner says she isn't infected, and most people don't lie when asked directly (at least not when asked outside the immediate sexual circumstance).

Your specific questions:  There is no realistic risk you got infected, you didn't put your girlfriend at risk, and you do not need HIV testing.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD