Very worried, please reply!

[James74]

Hi. I`m a male married. Lately, I`ve been very worried about the next story: 8 weeks ago, on a bussiness trip, I went to a strip club and got a Lap dance. I had a small kiss session with a girl,deep,and fingered her vagina for some time (no penetration).  I don't know she is HIV positive but I am
curious of the risk level in this situation.Since then, I`ve been very stressed and worried about my wife we have had only a few sessions of sex. I called to an AIDS hotline and they told me this: no penetration, no risk. .  Now my wife is kind of sick (headache, stomached and fatiga no fever) with some rash on face and torso and I have feel swollen nodes only in my neck, no fever (maybe stress). Now my questions:

1. No penetration, no risk. Is this true?
2. Do you think I have anything to worry about?.
3. Do you recommend to take a test?
4. Can I continue with a normal life with my wife?
5. ARS rash is present in all the body or just in some places?  Do you know how HIV rash look
6.I know that Lymphadenopathy from HIV-related ARS involves generalized swelling of lymph nodes across the body, including the neck, underarms, and both groins. Is there fever with this symptom?
Please reply. Thanx in advance. Regards.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Nobody has ever acquired HIV by the sort of exposures you describe.  Your symptoms do not sound like primary HIV infection, and cannot be due to HIV anyway, if you have no other risks.  1) The hotline advice is correct.  2) No.  3) From a medical or risk assessment perspective, you do not need testing. But since you are anxious about it, you should probably be tested; most people in your situation are not able to relax after reassurance by me or a hotline, and need the negative test result to put their anxieties behind them.  If that applies to you, get tested for HIV.  4) Yes, you can safely have sex with your wife.  5,6) All symptoms of ARS occur with a hundred other things, all more common than HIV. If you have a rash or believe you have enlarged lymph nodes, see a health care provider for proper evaluation; don't assume you have anything abnormal until you have done that.  (Most non-medical people who think their lymph nodes are enlarged are wrong.)

Bottom line: Probably you have no medical problem, only your anxiety over your infidelity.  But see a health care provider and have an HIV test if you remain concerned.

HHH, MD

[johnyq]

I can't imagine there being any risk unless she had some open sores/cuts in her mouth as you kissed her so I would not worry.  I actually have a similar question but have been the site has not allowed me to post so I guess I will try now in this way. I went to a high end strip club in Guatemala about two months  ago. A little more than a week before going I burned my middle finger on a hot log. About two days before I went the blister I developed that was once covering the burn spot on my finger fell off. It left a pinkish layer, definetely not the final layer. I did not use a band aid after.  I also had a lap dance and drunk stupidly slightly inserted my healing burnt finger into the woman's vagina. It was not by any means full penetration, just enough to feel moistness, wetness. My finger was not there for long as I soon realized the stupid thing I did and withdrew it. Immediately after the dance I washed it with soap and water. I did not notice any blood on the finger. I want to know what the risk of hiv infection is with a healing burn like that. Does that pinkish layer of skin provide  any protection or was what I did almost the equivalent of having unprotected sex. I did get tested in Guatemala(still there) two months after but even doubt the results. They took my blood after 330 pm and gave me the results around 6pm the same day as I had various things tested that day and requested whatever results were ready at the end of the day. I think they might have just wanted to please me for the moment by giving me all the results back at once instead of saying that the hiv test would have to wait- scary thought.  So is that type of time frame even possible for an elisa? - assuming it was that test.  I have been able to find out little to nothing about hiv transmission through healing burnt skin. About 7 weeks after the event I had a stiff neck, thought I had swollen lymph nodes, and had intense body heat at night but apparently no fever. That lasted for about 3 4 days. Supposedly the hiv rate in guatemala is quite high so I am quite worried.

[James74]

What do you think about this? Please reply!

* The virus dies very quickly when outside the human body, so the
transmission of fluids must be pretty much direct. The virus will survive
longer when inside a hypodermic needle or syringe.
* Saliva, sweat, tears, urine and feces do not transmit the virus.
* Scratches, sores, partially healed wounds or cuts, hangnails, etc.
are not large enough to let the virus in.
* The virus is not airborne and does not travel on its own. The fluids
containing HIV must be deposited inside the body.
* HIV cannot be transmitted through kissing, hugging, shaking hands,
using a bathroom, eating or drinking after someone who's infected or any
other activity that does not produce the 3 requirements listed above.
* Even when performing a high risk activity, HIV transmission is not
automatic.
* Transmission through the mouth is possible, but not easy, so oral sex
is considered a low risk activity.
* Other sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea,
syphilis, herpes, etc., are transmitted more easily than HIV.