Haircut in Peru

[Olympus4000]

Dear Drs,

About 3 1/2 weeks ago I had a haircut in Chiclayo, Peru, at the end of which the hairdresser pulled a straight razor out of a drawer, sprayed some kind of cleanser on it (not sure if it was water or alcohol), and then used it to remove some hair. I felt a small sting but didn't notice anything else. I briefly worried about infection (specifically HIV) but was able to mentally put it in the category "hit with a stray bullet".

Then two weeks later I came down with the following symptoms that reminded me of ARS, and I got worried again:

- sore throat (one day)
- recurrent fever
- aches
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- pain behind eyes
- full body rash (only for a few hours)
- NO nasal or chest symptoms

Do I have anything to worry about?

This may be a stupid question, but if I get tested back home in Canada will that cover anything I might have been exposed to in Peru?

Finally, I've seen on this forum that the window period is 6-8 weeks....does that mean 6 weeks or 8 weeks?

Thanks and regards.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No.  Your symptoms are by no means unique to the ARS.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll provide some comments.  I think that your "hit by a stray bullet" analogy is far too high.  Your risk of getting hit by a meteorite is higher than your risk of getting infected from use of a contaminate razor in the course of getting a haircut.   HIV is not spread in this way.  

Your symptoms have some of the characteristics of the ARS but they are also a great description of the sort of symptoms which accompany any number of far, far more common, non-STD, non-HIV viral infections that are so very common in the course of day-to-day life and which, if anything, are more common among travelers.  Given your lack of risk, I would not worry that they are due to HIV and I see no reason for concern or testing.

If your symptoms had been due to HIV, a test taken a week after they started would be positive.

Following acquisition of HIV, over 95% of infections can be detected by standard blood tests at 6 weeks and at 8 weeks, virtually all are detectable.  I would repeat however that, at least based on what you report above, you have no reason for testing, much less concern.

I hope my comments are helpful.  EWH

[Olympus4000]

Thank you, doctor. I'd never had a cold before that hadn't affected my nose and chest. So that isn't unique to ARS, then?