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HIV Prevention Community

If you believe you have been exposed to HIV and want help to judge your risk, would like advice about HIV testing, or have questions about the effectiveness of condoms or risks associated with specific sexual practices, this is the site for you.
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Burning rash

by Christoffer, Jul 02, 2008 11:51PM
Hi. Here comes a question from sweden. So please excuse my english..

About a month ago i had some unprotected oral sex with a 19 years old black girl in sweden. Some cunnilingus and some fellatio. Non of us came and i could not see or tase any blood or wounds on her.
Maby worth mention is that she have been living in Sweden for her whole,or at least most part of her life, and was absolutly no sexworker or drug addict.
My problem is that after 3 weeks and 5 days i develop burning red flush/rash on my neck and chest. It feels almost like a sunburn. The red areas can come and go during the day. This is the second day i have them and when i woke up this morning they were gone. But after a while i feel some burning in my neck again...
I have no other symptom, except extreme anxiety.  
I have been worried for weeks but when these rash appear, it maked me scared to death. Can´t sleep, eat or think.
Please give me you professional opinion.

By the way thank´s for the good website which i´m sure have helped many people..

Member Comments (15)

by Nickolas290, Jul 03, 2008 02:05AM
To: christoffer
There are many other things that could cause that rash (many of them far more common than HIV) and some of them a more immediate risk and or danger than HIV. This problem could be anything from anxiety to actual sunburn to a skin infection to an STI you might have carried for a while. To be honest, I wouldn't jump to conclusions that it is HIV, but, if you do not know her status I would advise that you go see a doctor immediately and get her and yourself tested, and, for obvious reasons, if she declines, then I suggest you yourself get tested because at 4-6 weeks most people have already developed antibodies towards HIV meaning you would be infected.

Once again, in my opinion, see a doctor and discuss your symptoms and/or concerns because prolonged skin conditions are no joke.

Good luck.

by Nickolas290, Jul 03, 2008 02:06AM
To: christoffer
One more thing, as with all sexual intercourse, there is a risk of transmission, but with oral sex it is considerably less than with any other type of sex.

Most risky sexual behaviors:
Anal
Vaginal
Oral

by Christoffer, Jul 03, 2008 03:39AM
To: Nickolas290
I´m just little bit confused about the risk. On this forum i can see H. Hunter Hadsfield often write that the risk is too low to worried about it, and that testing is not recommended (if it´s not for peace of mind).
He also write that symptom doesn´t mean anything. The risk if the most important thing.
The red flush defently seems to be related to anxiety, when they seems to come more when i read or think about something that has to do with hiv, and disapear when i do something els.

by aak001, Jul 03, 2008 03:50AM
thier was post regardingrash yesterday or the day before and it was answered by Teak one of the most experienced members on this forum. scroll down and you will find it if i remember well they described the rash that is caused by ARS. your risk was very low you did not have vaginalor anal sex which makes you risk free ;)

by Ice_Man, Jul 03, 2008 03:53AM
To: Christoffer
I understand your worries perfectly. I have also suffered from grave hiv anxiety. Your exposure is very low risk, almost impossible so I'm sure you have contracted the hiv from this instance. More likely is that the rash is due to some other infection, or maby due to something not related to this exposure at all. To calm your mind I suggest a full STD test (including hiv) at 6 weeks past exposure. And then follow Swedish testing guidlines for STD's. If nothing comes from that, talk to a skin doctor. You are lucky to be in Sweden, you enjoy the health system of excellence with none alike :0)

by Ice_Man, Jul 03, 2008 03:54AM
To: Christoffer..
Sorry brother - of course I ment: I'm sure you have NOT contracted the hiv from this instance :0)

by Christoffer, Jul 03, 2008 04:19AM
To: Ice_Man
Well 10 days after exposure i took urin test for bacterial STD. All came back negative.

by Teak, Jul 03, 2008 04:27AM
You were never at risk of contracting HV.  

by Christoffer, Jul 03, 2008 05:35AM
To: Teak
Thanks Teak!
Normaly i am at the same oppinion as you. Just that this incident reactivated and old anxiety that i had for almost my hole life. And it´s limitid just to HIV.
We limited the sexual contact to oralsex cause we didn´t have any condom and at the time, i was very confident that oral sex was safe enough.

You seems to be very covinced that oral sex i safe. I read on your page that you are possitive, so my question to you is..

1. Would you have any problem having some kind of oral sex with a negative person?
2. When does a positive person have the inform his/her partner about the positive status? Oral sex? Kissing?

by Teak, Jul 03, 2008 05:40AM
1. No, but I would leave it up to the negative person to decide.
2. Any time one has sex. PROTECTED OR NOT.