ARS Timing

[PCK]

I had an unprotected oral and PROTECTED vaginal sex with a sex worker 2 months ago.  At 3.5 weeks, I developed a sore throat, stiff neck and shoulders, nausea, and may be even a low grade fever for a very short period.  The sore throat was resolved within a week, but the stiff neck took 2 weeks to fade away.  I think the muscle stiffness and nausea were due to my anxiety (anxiety led to nausea, then more anxiety led to muscle stiffness)  
Then at 6.5 weeks, I had a sore throat again!  This time it hurt real bad, and two days later I started to have runny/stuffy nose.  Few more days after that, cough and phelgm came into the picture as well.  I think what I have is a common cold because there is no fever, headeache, or extreme fatigue.

My questions are:

(1) Do you think what I had at 6.5 weeks was a common cold or a flu?

(2)  ARS symptoms usually show up 2 to 4 weeks (some say 2 to 6 weeks) after infection.  How often/likely is it for symptoms to show up after 6 weeks?


(3)  ARS symptoms are generally mono-like or flu-like.  Are symptoms of common cold possible symptoms as well?  

Thank you very much, Dr. Hunter.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

As has been said repeatedly on this forum, the chance of a male acquiring HIV from a single episode of unprotected vaginal sex with an HIV-infected woman averages 1 in 1000.  Add the facts that the large majority of sex workers do not have HIV and the 95-99% efficacy of a properly used condom, and the chance you acquired HIV is probably no higher than 1 in a million.  And of course many viruses and other conditions cause the symptoms you describe, other than ARS.  So to answer your specific questions:

1) Do I think you had a common cold or flu at 6.5 weeks?  Yes.

2) I'm not an expert on timing of ARS symptoms; but I believe you are right, it would be uncommon to have symptoms onset as long as 6 weeks after infection.  But not unheard of.

3) ARS symptoms are nonspecific; you can't tell the difference from any number of other virual infections.

Relax; you don't have HIV.  But get tested.  As I have said before, anxious people generally will be more reassured by the negative test result than by my verbal reassurance.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[titotito]

Hi:

I had insertive oral sex without protection with a sex worker and 2 days after i got a sore throat that went away after 3 days and fatigue that lasted for a week. Im really scared and i dont know what to do..I tested 26 days after the exposure and it was negative.

My questions are

1) Can i get ars symptoms after 2 days and whats the earliest?
2) do you think i should get tested?
3) How many ppl from your experience were positive after insertive oral sex.
4) should i be comfortable atleast with my test results?

Its just very wierd that i got a sore throat after 2 days of the exposure and felt fatigued.

i hope u can answer my questions