opportunistic infections

[a_worried_man]

hello

around a year ago I had a couple of exposures which had initially worried me - but which, after consulting a local GU clinic, and researching sites such as yours, thebody.com and freedomhealth uk, no longer did so.

basically i have never had anal sex, nor unprotected vaginal, and oral sex only with my long term partner.

however, in these two incidents, i mutually masturbated a pre-op transexual sex worker - and was worried about the possibility of his/her precum touching my urethreal opening, and, in the other, received a handjob, with saliva as lubricant, from another sex worker.

now i am getting bacterial throat infecetions - i had one in may, and another now in july....i am worried that these could be early opportunistic infections...does this make any sense? i had stopped worrying about them as i thought there had been no risk.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, a CBC is a general test which can sometimes give a clue to the possiblity of HIV but is often normal in persons with HIV.  The way to rule out HIV is with a test for HIV, not with nor-specific tests such as a CBC.  Please don't worry. EWH

[a_worried_man]

Thanks for your reply - I will take your word that these incidents do not pose an HIV risk,  although to my untrained mind the reasons are not very clear.

Meanwhile the infection seems to have been cured by anti-biotics..I continue to suffer from ear pain...I am following this up with my GP.

Meanwhile I had a CBC done...my white cells are 5 from a range of 3-11, so they are normal. I know that a CBC is not the same as an HIV test, but, am I correct to think that, if these infections were signs of a diminished immunity due to HIV, the CBC would be below the normal range, so that this is further evidence of non-infection?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I urge you to stop worrying. For starters, the additonal exposures you escribe do not carry any risk for HIV.  Thus worrying about HIV has no basis.

Secondly, sore throats are not opportunistic infections or signs of iminished immunity.  

I would not worry. EWH

[a_worried_man]

PS I am heterosexual..