Aa
Peace of mind
Hi Doctor,
I work in Uganda, and around 4 weeks ago I had sex with a local lady in Kampala. The sex was protected and at no time was my penis inside her without a condom. This may seem possibly a little niave hence the title. We may have kissed briefly, and I also fingered her, she gave me unprotected oral sex briefly but full intercourse was protected at all times.
I have not had any of symptoms listed, high tempratures, achy muscles etc. I have had the odd small rash on the inside joint of my arm and small heat bumps but these would all coincide with the living conditions on the camp I'm working at (humid, sunny, not the most perfect of water supplies when showering etc) and things I have suffered with previously when on holiday or in the heat back home. I had a full check up and given a clean bill of health before coming hear so i know it isn't an underlying issue either.
Would appreciate your comments.
I work in Uganda, and around 4 weeks ago I had sex with a local lady in Kampala. The sex was protected and at no time was my penis inside her without a condom. This may seem possibly a little niave hence the title. We may have kissed briefly, and I also fingered her, she gave me unprotected oral sex briefly but full intercourse was protected at all times.
I have not had any of symptoms listed, high tempratures, achy muscles etc. I have had the odd small rash on the inside joint of my arm and small heat bumps but these would all coincide with the living conditions on the camp I'm working at (humid, sunny, not the most perfect of water supplies when showering etc) and things I have suffered with previously when on holiday or in the heat back home. I had a full check up and given a clean bill of health before coming hear so i know it isn't an underlying issue either.
Would appreciate your comments.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
You had safe sex; there is virtually no chance you caught HIV given the properly used, intact condom. The virus is not transmitted by kissing or fingering, and too rarely by oral sex to be a realistic concern. As for your symptoms, a localized rash like you describe is never the only manifestation of a new HIV infection. The skin rash of acute HIV infection is body-wide and is always accompanied by fever and usually by other symptoms, like severe sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes.
I cannot speculate about other possible causes -- a heat rash may be a reasonable possibility, but that's all I can say. (On this forum we don't speculate about non-HIV or non-STD explanations for symptoms.) If it persists and/or you remain concerned, see a health professional -- but I see no reason you should be concerned about HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You had safe sex; there is virtually no chance you caught HIV given the properly used, intact condom. The virus is not transmitted by kissing or fingering, and too rarely by oral sex to be a realistic concern. As for your symptoms, a localized rash like you describe is never the only manifestation of a new HIV infection. The skin rash of acute HIV infection is body-wide and is always accompanied by fever and usually by other symptoms, like severe sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes.
I cannot speculate about other possible causes -- a heat rash may be a reasonable possibility, but that's all I can say. (On this forum we don't speculate about non-HIV or non-STD explanations for symptoms.) If it persists and/or you remain concerned, see a health professional -- but I see no reason you should be concerned about HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thanks for that, you have made me one very relieved man. Usually it wouldn't concern me it's just with me working in Africa. The small skin rashes arent really concerning me. I travel back to the UK in 5 days so once out the sun this should settle as normal.
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