Acupuncture and HIV - please help

[Ems425]

Hi,
I am hoping that you can provide me with some guidance and also some reassurance.  Let me start by saying that I believe that my fears are being driven predominantly by anxiety but I really need somebody to give me a medical opinion.
I am an expat living in the Middle East.  I have recently had a few sessions of acupuncture (laughably to help with anxiety).  This was last week.  6 days after the acupuncture I developed a sore throat, my anxiety has gone into over drive and I am very stressed that I have contracted HIV.

I went back to the chinese centre that I received the acupuncture and they confirmed that they only ever use disposable needles and showed me the new packets to prove this is the case.  They also showed me the sharps bin (which was full) to prove that they do not re-use old needles.

I have a few questions:

1.  Do you think my fears are warranted?
2.  Do you think it is likely that I can have contracted HIV in this situation?
3.  Can only a sore throat be attributed to ARS
4.  Would 6 days post potential exposure be too soon for ARS to develop?

I really need somebody to go through this with me point by point and give me their opinion.  

Do you believe that I have put myself at risk at all or that my risk is minimal to zero?  

Thank you so much for your response.  I really need to move on and am not able to do so by myself

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As you know, you have posted on the wrong site.   Questions about HIV belong on the HIV prevention site.  I will do my best to answer your questions with this reply but, if you have additional questions or follow-up they must be on the HIV Prevention site.  Sorry bu those are the rules.

I do think that you are at virtually no risk from the receipt of acupuncture.  As you point out, the needles are single use.  Furthermore, acupuncture needles are not hollow and hollow needles are the ones that most efficiently transfer blood from person to person, not solid ones.  In answer to your specific questions:

1.  See above- no.
2.  Again, no.
3 and 4.  Sore throat alone would not be typical of the ARS and 6 days is too early for the ARS to start. It typically begins at around 3 weeks.

Hope this helps.  EWH

[Ems425]

Have just realised I have posted this in the wrong forum.  Does anybody know how to put it in the right one?

Thanks