ARS symptoms?

[lisa123398]

Hi Doc,

I have 2 unprotected vaginal sex with a man that i do not know his HIV status at 9 weeks and 26 days ago.  

I have had a flu like symptoms around 9 days after our last intercourse(26 days or first exposure 7 weeks ago). My symptoms were fever (last for 3 days), slight headache, a night sweats (head only), sore throat, running/stuffy nose and tireness. I went to see doctor and given some antibiotic. After taking the antibiotic for 5 days, all these symptoms gone away after a week (2nd week, after last exposure) except stuffy nose. The stuffy nose is at either side of my nose, do not have any discharge, come and go anytime during the day/night.

At 3rd week (7 days after last antibiotic) after the last exposure, i got acute diarrhea(watery tools) which only last for few hours. The next day after the diarrhea, i felt lack of energy for both my hands/legs (disapear after a day) and headache (sharp pain in front of my head). I also feel pain between my eyes if i apply pressure at that area. Beside, I also feel a enlarge lymph nodes at one side of my neck and 2 under my chin.  The headache gone away after 3 days. The stuffy nose and enlarge lymph nodes still there until now. I have had a night sweat(head only) after the diarrhea.  

1. Are these symptoms suggest ARS for HIV?
2. Some people said ARS can happen few days after exposure. Is my timeframe fixed in even after the first exposure 9 weeks ago?
3. When should i get tested?

[bbbbb05]

A related discussion, is this ars...VERY WORRIED was started.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice.  Congestion = stuffy nose = runny nose = full feeling in the face.  It's all the same.  HIV doesn't cause it.

You caught a cold.  That's it.  Thread over.

[lisa123398]

Thanks for your reassurance.

Please read this post and reassess my risk before i can really move on.

The man i mentioned in this thread is my fiance. He is a naval and just come back from Phillipine after many years of service there. He has been getting sex services from local prostitute before come back from good. (high risk)

The reason why we have unprotected sex is because I am taking contraception pill and we plan to get married this year.

Something i missed out in the begining is. I did not have running nose. What is did have is nasal congestion with some white/yellow discharge (in very small quantity). My first symptom does not look like common cold or flu neither. I do have mouth ulcer during the onset of the first flu like symptoms.

I am very sure all my symptoms are not due to anxiety as i only suspect HIV a day before my post. I aslo suffer back muscle pain and joint pain at my elbow few days after my diarhea.

All this symptoms are unexplained and pointed to ARS. The only thing i do not have is rash.

I am calm and just need someone to tell me the truth, if any.

Please do not delete my last post and give me some fact. thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Yes, stuffy nose = nasal congestion.  Headache and diarrhea can occur with ARS, but are not typical.  Of all people with the mix of symptoms you describe, probably less than 1 in a million have HIV as the cause. I truly meant it when I said that if you were my patient, based on the symptoms and your exposure history, I would not even have recommended HIV testing.

You came here for reassurance.  I gave it.  Please accept it and move on.  

[lisa123398]

Hi Doc,

Thanks for your speedy reply.

Is stuffy nose = nasal congestion? The congestion is really mild.

Diarrhea and headache symptoms? thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Please read any number of the innumerable threads on this forum - literally hundreds - that make the point that symptoms never are a valid indicator either for or against a new HIV infection.  (Pick just about any 10-15 threads at random and you'll find at least 1 or 2 replies that make the same point.)  That's because even the most typical symptoms of ARS also occur in many other medical conditions, almost all of which are more common than ARS.

Could some of your symptoms be due to ARS?  Sure.  But any number of garden variety cold viruses are far more likely.  On top of all this, despite all the hype about HIV these days, heterosexually transmitted HIV remains rare in the US and most industrialized countries, especially after single exposures.  The large majority of heterosexually acquired cases are in the regular partners of persons with HIV, not casual, one-time contacts.  Putting all this together, the chance you have HIV is extraordinarily low.

To the direct questions>

1) Some symptoms yes (sore throat, fever), others no (stuffy nose); but all together, almost certainly not HIV.

2) ARS symptoms pretty much always start 1-3 weeks after exposure.

3) From a strictly medical or risk assessment perspective, you don't really need HIV testing at all.  However, everybody who is sexually active outside a permanent, committed relationship ought to have periodic HIV testing, like every 1-2 years.  Since it's on your mind, and because of your anxiety about it, this would be a good time.  If it will help you sleep better, get tested now; a negative result will prove you weren't infected at the first exposure 9 weeks earlier.  For still further reassurance, you could be tested again 6-8 weeks after the last sexual exposure.  Or just wait until then and have a single test.

Truly, relax.  Almost certainly you don't have it.    

Best wishes-- HHH, MD