Am I seroconverting after anal?

[amiseroconverting]

Hi doctor,

I went to a gay sex party (21/04/2014) and had a few encounters where I was the recepient of anal sex (protected). Only 1 ejaculated and I'm sure i checked they were all still wearing a condom after we stopped (although I was drunk). Not sure if they broke tho - we used lube (water based).

However, 2 weeks after I developed a rash under my eye. After a bit of hydrocortisone it went away after 1 day (rash was pink - i am british asian/indian. Then a few days later I developed a mild sore throat (no swollen lymph nodes i think in neck/groin/armpit). I am not sure what to make of all this. Sore throats (let alone a rash) are extremely rare for me and its scary that i got one 2.5 weeks after the party. I did take nytol (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) the night before my sore throat so not sure if thats effected me, although i think its an antihistamine. I got the rash however before i took nytol. I really need to get tested soon, although the stats / transmission models from the CDC are reassuring i guess. I'm just thinking maybe a condom broke or someone took their off and i didnt notice (room was dark)....polyquartnium-15 has shown us all that lube without a condom increases hiv transmission....

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help. condom protected sex is safe sex and you state that condoms were used for all encounters and appeared to remain intact upon completion of sex.  If condoms appear intact, they are. When condoms fail they break wide open leaving no doubt that they have failed.  

Further the symptoms you describe -an isolated rash under your eye and a sore throat are not suggestive of HIV.  Persons who develop symptoms at the time of HIV seroconversion (the "ARS") are quite ill with high fevers, severe muscle aches and a total body rash as well as a sore throat.  

My advice is to not worry. your chance of having been infected is very, very low.  Should you wish to test to be sure, I would suggest that you get tested with a 4th generation, combined HIV antigen/antibody test at about 4 weeks after your exposures.  EWH

[amiseroconverting]

It's fascinating that when people take low doses of ARVs they develop a resistance to their meds.....just shows how mutagenic HIV is. In fact virus attenuation is a 2 way process.....if it wasn't for the wreckless race for a polio vaccine in the 50's this forum probably wouldn't even exist.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm pleased I could help.  EWH

[amiseroconverting]

Thanks Doctor that has helped a lot.