Risk Assessment

[serpentinefire3]

About 12 days ago I had a sexual encounter with a bisexual man.  I'm a gay man and am not very sexual active (I just got out of a ltr monogamous).  Anyways, I ended up meeting this bisexual man on myspace and we decided to meet up...things escalated and we ended up making out and I performed oral sex on him.  I asked him before we met up if he had gotten tested, and he said, "yes, in August" and that he was HIV negative.  I also made sure before things escalated to ask him again that he was HIV negative, and he said that he was negative and asked me my status, I said negative (tested in Dec).  There was no ejaculation, but there was precum when I was going down on him.  The next morning I noticed that I had a very minor burn on my tongue and that it was even bleeding a little bit (I'm guessing it was bleeding because my mouth gets very dry overnight).  I vaguely remembered burning my tongue the day before, but nothing crazy, or nothing that really hurt, I had even forgotten about it.  

Anyways, 12 days later, I've noticed a swollen something right behind my ear lobe.  I'm guessing it's a lymph node, but I'm not sure.  It's bout the size of a pea.  I want to say that I've gotten swollen in this area before, but I'm not 100% sure.  I've contacted the guy and he has assured me that he is HIV negative, was tested in August, and has only been having safe sex.  Do you think I'm at risk?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  If you will read through the forum, you will see that symptoms never reliably indicate a new HIV infection, no matter now classically the mimic ARS.  That's because the classical ARS symptoms are the same as those from a large number of other infections that are far more common.  In any case, HIV never causes the localized symptom you are describing.  When HIV causes lymphadenopathy (lymph node inflammation), it's all over the body -- both sides of the neck, both armpits, the groin, sometimes other locations.  A single pea-sized bump might not even be a lymph node -- but if it is, it has nothing to do with HIV.

Congratulations on pursuing a safe sex lifestyle. If you keep up your habit of asking and sharing HIV status, and use condoms if/when you participate in anal sex, you will go a lifetime without catching HIV.

Bottom line:  You describe a very safe situation and no symptoms to suggest HIV.  Of course see a provider if the swelling persists or you otherwise remain concerned.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I thought you could move on at the time of your original question.

Probably 80-90% of people with new HIV infection would have a positive OraQuick test by 25 days.  If you want higher reassurance, you need to test again at 6-8 weeks.  But I truly don't think you need testing at all.

No more posts on this thread, please.

[serpentinefire3]

it was an oraquick rapid test with saliva

[serpentinefire3]

I was just tested at the 25 day mark, it was negative.  Think I can move on?

thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No.

[serpentinefire3]

you don't think think that I have to worry about the fact that my tongue was burned, even though slightly?

[serpentinefire3]

A related discussion, herpes of eye hiv? was started.