skin problems

[v1905]

can somenone developed kaposis sarcoma after 8 weeks of post-exposure, or is it too early, i have been having all these skin issues,red skin rashes, lately i have seen a like a raised wart type of brown color on my arm, i am very stress out because i have had almost every symptom,
had neg test at 4 weeks,
have someone experience similar skin symptoms

[Teak]

No, you cannot develope KS 8 weeks post exposure. See a dermatologist if you have a concern.

[v1905]

thank you man, i was wondering because i was concern about this rashes on my skin what i know it usually takes some time to develop ks, but i wasn sure
do you know someone who has ks and how time it took to appear noticeable

[Teak]

All the people that I know that have had KS was in late stages of HIV infection.

[v1905]

thax. if the symptoms persist i might have to go to the doctor, can people get KS and not being infected, or usually hiv pos people get it

[Teak]

There are Several types of KS.
Classic Kaposi Sarcoma
African (Endemic) Kaposi Sarcoma
AIDS-Related (Epidemic) Kaposi Sarcoma
Transplant-Related (Acquired) Kaposi Sarcoma

It is rare that anyone would contract KS. Since AVRs, KS has declined in 90%.

[v1905]

thank you for answering, hoping the spots i have arent ks, what else could be similar in appeareance to ks

[Teak]

The only way to know is see a dermatologist and have them look at it.

[guiltnworry]

Kaposi's Sarcoma can be, and was first seen, in non-HIV positive populations in older men of Eastern European Jewish or Mediterranean descent.  It is a form of cancer caused by the Human Herpes Virus 8 (different from genital or oral herpes).  It manifests itself as Kaposi's sarcoma because the immune system is depressed.  Once the AIDS epidemic was documented, doctors began to notice it in men with very advanced AIDS.  Kaposi's sarcoma looks like other things, like tumors of blood vessel origin, called angiosarcomas.  It also can resemble bacillary angiomatosis, an infection spread by a bacteria called Bartonella that is carried by cats, but this is more common in HIV infected patients.  

You would never develop KS 8 weeks post exposure.  You could have a rash due to mono, which is common.  

[v1905]

why can someone develop ks 8 weeks post exposure, i've read about small percentage of people infected with hiv develop aids in less than 3 years or even a year, it says its rare but exist

[guiltnworry]

It definitely does exist, but usually in people who were partially immunosuppressed anyway.  It says 3 years or less but not in a period of 8 weeks. HHV8 can also be affected by the presence of other viruses and conditions in the body, so if you had HHV8 and were very sick with mono/flu/cancer, whatever, you could show lesions of KS because you would be sort of immunosuppressed from fighting the infection.  Relax V, you don't have Kaposi's, I am confident!  If you are really worried, go to the doc, he will be able to tell you immediately that it is not KS and he can do tests to figure out what it is, if he even thinks it is important!

[chilly willy]

Are you saying you could also have a rash or ks due to a respiratory infection or viral infection ?

[guiltnworry]

No no, you couldn't have KS DUE TO the respiratory infection.  What I was trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to say is that if someone were infected with HHV8, the virus that causes KS, and was apparently asymptomatic, they could possibly present with KS after/while fighting another respiratory viral/bacterial infection.  This is because KS manifests itself when the immune system is compromised.  Compromised can be caused by a complete lack of immune system, a damaged immune system, OR an immune system that is occupied somewhere else.  By somewhere else, I mean the respiratory infection, viral ear infection etc etc, or any other infection that "distracts" the immune system from the HHV8.  This is when KS could manifest, but it is still VERY VERY rare, especially today.  If someone presents with KS and has HIV, they can start HAART and this can reduce the KS.  As the immune system improves on HAART, KS will, in most cases, gradually go away.  In people who don't have HIV, KS is very very rare and is limited to older, Eastern European men.  

[v1905]

thankyou again for answering, your response calm me down a bit, yes i am going to visit the derm hopefully its just my worry, i will let everyone know if its ks, it would be a rare case hopefully not  

[guiltnworry]

Not a problem, keep us posted, and good luck, its probably just eczema or something simple like that!