possible exposure

[bdi56]

Dear Dr.... the last time i was tested was 6 months ago. i get tested about every 6 months ago and almost always practice safe sex. Since my last test i have had protected sex with 2 women and unprotected with 1. This unprotected  vaginal sex occcured 4 weeks ago with a 32 year old married woman (currently going through a devorce). I did not know her very well and had only seen her a few times at a bar i frequent here in San Diego. We went home together and had unprotected oral/vaginal sex lasting about 20 min. After we both agreed we should of used a condom and she confessed to me that she had recently had unprotected sex a few weeks prior with another man. Fast forward about 10 days. I get sick, i start experiencing a pretty bad soar throat and swollen tonsels, along with mild fatigue. i went into the doctor and he looked at my throat and said i most likley had bacterial infection. perscribed me amoxicillin. i went home and started that night. the next morning and throughout the day i got what looked to be hives. big red welts with extreme itching all over my legs and ocasionally 1 or 2 on my wrist. went back to the doctor and he said that it was from the antibiotic and took me off of it and gave me benedryl and a z pack. i started feeling better in a few days, soar throat went away and hives dissapated after about 4 to 5 days. i never had a fever. but did experience some diarrhea. ( maybe from anxiety) what worries me is that i have never had hives in my life. and i have also taken amoxicillin before and it did not cause that. i got tested today at my 28 day mark with hiv antibodies test as well as the hiv RNR test.

1. what is the likely hood that i cantracted HIV?

2. in your oppinion do these symptoms sound like ARS?

3. Do you think hives have anything to do with possible HIV infection?

4. Given the time frame is the testing i did considered conclusive?

Thank you for your time.

Regards

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Take care. EWH

[bdi56]

Just an update. Received my results today and everything came back negative. Thank you for your help. I will put this behind me and be sure to be more carful in the future.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thank you.  I am confident your twists will be negative.  EWH

[bdi56]

Thank you for your time and speedy reply Dr. All I can do now is wait for my results. If it's ok I will post them when I get them back in a few days.

All the best

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. I'll be happy to comment. The partner you describe was low risk and the risk of HIV from a single unprotected exposure is likewise quite low.  Try not to worry.  The rash and reaction you describe following taking amoxicillin does sound very much like an amoxicillin reaction, something that is rather common and the fact that all got better when you stopped taking the medication supports this.

I would not worry about HIV.  When the results of the tests you took today are back, I anticipate that they will be negative.  When you get these results, they will be definitive.  At 28 days, the combination of an HIV antibody test and a HIV PCR will provide definitive results which should be believed.  No further testing will be needed.

In answer to your specific tests:
1. what is the likely hood that i cantracted HIV?
Very Low- see above.

2. in your oppinion do these symptoms sound like ARS?
No, it sounds like a medication reaction.

3. Do you think hives have anything to do with possible HIV infection?
No.

4. Given the time frame is the testing i did considered conclusive?
Yes, the test results will be conclusive.

Take care.  EWH