Aa
Assessment of Risk
Dear Dr.
4 month ago I had a possible exposure. I was at a conference sharing a room with 1 other participant. I was at the gym & came back to the room to see that he was in his underwear. I dont know what came to my mind, but I touched his underwear & played with his penis for 10 seconds (no direct contact with penis, only over the underwear which might have had ***). I think I had an open sore in my nails (i often have them bcs I eat my nails and sometimes there is blood). He might have masturated in his underwear before me coming into the room and had *** residues on panties. This would put me in direct contact with the virus if he had it.
I did not think of it except after I started to develop symptoms.
2 weeks after the episode, I developed a deep cough (no fever) for 5 days. Exactly 6 wks after this episode, I developed fever for 3 days & diahrea. What is also alarming is that after the off-set of the fever, diahrea, I developed a mouth ulcer and 6-7 pimples on the right side of my neck. I didnt develop sore throat, no headache, no swollen lymph nodes and no rash on my trunk.
1) Do you think I was at a major risk?
2a) Are those symptoms consistent with ARS?
2b) If semen was on his panties, how long does HIV virus last on his panties?
3) What are ARS muscle aches? is it a shoulder pain or is a whole body pain?
4) Does chesty cough without fever resemeble ARS after 2 wks?
5) Ive read online on most websites that ARS onsets 2-4 wks on some website, others say 2-6 wks. Could ARS start at 6 weeks after exposure ? or is it usually before that?
6) Is the duration of 3-days of the fever consistent with ARS? Or is it too short? How long does ARS fever usually last?
7) Does ARS rash correspond to only a couple of pimples on the right side of the neck or is it a whole body rash? or is it generally more symmetric? How long does it last for?
8) What is worrying me is the mouth ulcer. I havent gotten them since I was a kid. Is that a clear indication of ARS?
4 month ago I had a possible exposure. I was at a conference sharing a room with 1 other participant. I was at the gym & came back to the room to see that he was in his underwear. I dont know what came to my mind, but I touched his underwear & played with his penis for 10 seconds (no direct contact with penis, only over the underwear which might have had ***). I think I had an open sore in my nails (i often have them bcs I eat my nails and sometimes there is blood). He might have masturated in his underwear before me coming into the room and had *** residues on panties. This would put me in direct contact with the virus if he had it.
I did not think of it except after I started to develop symptoms.
2 weeks after the episode, I developed a deep cough (no fever) for 5 days. Exactly 6 wks after this episode, I developed fever for 3 days & diahrea. What is also alarming is that after the off-set of the fever, diahrea, I developed a mouth ulcer and 6-7 pimples on the right side of my neck. I didnt develop sore throat, no headache, no swollen lymph nodes and no rash on my trunk.
1) Do you think I was at a major risk?
2a) Are those symptoms consistent with ARS?
2b) If semen was on his panties, how long does HIV virus last on his panties?
3) What are ARS muscle aches? is it a shoulder pain or is a whole body pain?
4) Does chesty cough without fever resemeble ARS after 2 wks?
5) Ive read online on most websites that ARS onsets 2-4 wks on some website, others say 2-6 wks. Could ARS start at 6 weeks after exposure ? or is it usually before that?
6) Is the duration of 3-days of the fever consistent with ARS? Or is it too short? How long does ARS fever usually last?
7) Does ARS rash correspond to only a couple of pimples on the right side of the neck or is it a whole body rash? or is it generally more symmetric? How long does it last for?
8) What is worrying me is the mouth ulcer. I havent gotten them since I was a kid. Is that a clear indication of ARS?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. I'm glad that access has been restored.
The exposure that you describe did not put you at risk for HIV or other STDs, even if he had masturbated and had genital secretions on his underwear and even if you had sores on your hands. HIV is not transmitted through masturbation or through clothing.
While the symptoms you describe have some of the characteristics of the ARS, they do not match up completely with ARS symptoms. Furthermore, even when person with "classical" ARS symptoms are evaluated for HIV, over 99% of them are found to not have HIV and instead to have their symptoms be due to the sort of common, every day viral infections that most people get from time to time. The fact that you did not have a meaningful exposure makes this the most likely source of your symptoms.
1) Do you think I was at a major risk?
No, there was no risk at all.
2a) Are those symptoms consistent with ARS?
See above. Typically the symptoms of the ARS all come on at one time, the pimples you describe are not the sort of rash associated with HIV, and you lack some of the other symptoms of the ARS such as SEVERE muscle and joint aches.
2b) If semen was on his panties, how long does HIV virus last on his panties?
HIV is not transmitted by clothing, even when the clothing becomes wet with genital fluid.
3) What are ARS muscle aches? is it a shoulder pain or is a whole body pain?
HIV muscle aches typical involve the entire body.
4) Does chesty cough without fever resemble ARS after 2 wks?
No.
5) I’ve read online on most websites that ARS onsets 2-4 wks on some website, others say 2-6 wks. Could ARS start at 6 weeks after exposure ? or is it usually before that?
Correct. 6 weeks is uncharacteristic for the beginning of the ARS.
6) Is the duration of 3-days of the fever consistent with ARS? Or is it too short? How long does ARS fever usually last?
The ARS typically lasts a few days, less than a week.
7) Does ARS rash correspond to only a couple of pimples on the right side of the neck or is it a whole body rash? or is it generally more symmetric? How long does it last for?
Your rash does not suggest the ARS.
8) What is worrying me is the mouth ulcer. I haven’t gotten them since I was a kid. Is that a clear indication of ARS? .
No, mouth ulcers are common and yours do not suggest the ARS.
I hope my comments help. I understand how, after an encounter that one worries about, they begin to worry about HIV and other STDs. However, you should not. The encounter you have described is no risk. Please do not worry. There is no reason for concern and no medical reason for testing. EWH
The exposure that you describe did not put you at risk for HIV or other STDs, even if he had masturbated and had genital secretions on his underwear and even if you had sores on your hands. HIV is not transmitted through masturbation or through clothing.
While the symptoms you describe have some of the characteristics of the ARS, they do not match up completely with ARS symptoms. Furthermore, even when person with "classical" ARS symptoms are evaluated for HIV, over 99% of them are found to not have HIV and instead to have their symptoms be due to the sort of common, every day viral infections that most people get from time to time. The fact that you did not have a meaningful exposure makes this the most likely source of your symptoms.
1) Do you think I was at a major risk?
No, there was no risk at all.
2a) Are those symptoms consistent with ARS?
See above. Typically the symptoms of the ARS all come on at one time, the pimples you describe are not the sort of rash associated with HIV, and you lack some of the other symptoms of the ARS such as SEVERE muscle and joint aches.
2b) If semen was on his panties, how long does HIV virus last on his panties?
HIV is not transmitted by clothing, even when the clothing becomes wet with genital fluid.
3) What are ARS muscle aches? is it a shoulder pain or is a whole body pain?
HIV muscle aches typical involve the entire body.
4) Does chesty cough without fever resemble ARS after 2 wks?
No.
5) I’ve read online on most websites that ARS onsets 2-4 wks on some website, others say 2-6 wks. Could ARS start at 6 weeks after exposure ? or is it usually before that?
Correct. 6 weeks is uncharacteristic for the beginning of the ARS.
6) Is the duration of 3-days of the fever consistent with ARS? Or is it too short? How long does ARS fever usually last?
The ARS typically lasts a few days, less than a week.
7) Does ARS rash correspond to only a couple of pimples on the right side of the neck or is it a whole body rash? or is it generally more symmetric? How long does it last for?
Your rash does not suggest the ARS.
8) What is worrying me is the mouth ulcer. I haven’t gotten them since I was a kid. Is that a clear indication of ARS? .
No, mouth ulcers are common and yours do not suggest the ARS.
I hope my comments help. I understand how, after an encounter that one worries about, they begin to worry about HIV and other STDs. However, you should not. The encounter you have described is no risk. Please do not worry. There is no reason for concern and no medical reason for testing. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, you cannot ask the same questions of r. Handsfield. FYI, we have worked together for over 30 years and while our style an verbiage may vary we virtually never disagree on our assessments or advice. Relax. EWH
Could Dr. HHH give me his view on this?
Thanks for your help Dr. Edward. While I acknowledge I was at low risk, Im anxious. Would it be possible to get a second opinion from your clinic?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Please stop your repeated posts to this and the HIV Prevention Forum. You are wasting effort an money. Be patient. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You do not need to start a new post. We allow a limited number of follow-up questions.
Your follow-up questions suggest that you are having trouble with your anxiety of this exposure so let me repeat the most important part of my answer to you- THERE IS NO, I REPEAT, NO RISK, OF HIV FROM THE SORT OF EXPOSURE YOU DESCRIBE. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CASE OF HIV TRANSMITTED THROUGH CLOTHING, EVEN WET CLOTHING OR SIMPLY BY TOUCHING. NEVER- NOT EVER!!!!
Now, with that answer. I will provide brief follow-uo to your questions. I will not however entertain "what if": type questions. They are a waste of your time an mine.
1)You are saying that HIV is not transmitted through clothing. What if I had an open sore in my hand and got in contact with sperm on his panties? Does that put me at risk? How long does sperm live on panties not in the body?
No, not through clothing. Almost everyone has small sores on their hands, but this does not change my assessment- still no risk.
How long sperm lives is irrelevant. The question is how long does HIV live outside of the body and the answer is not long- HIV begins to die almost immediately outside of the body due to exposure to the environment.
2) When you say that I have some but not all characteristics of ARS. What do you mean? Which ones?
Oh please.... at some point you will have to decide to believe me or not. Your symptoms did not occur at the same time as is typical of HIV, your rash sounds nothing like an HIV rash, 6 weeks is late for ARS to begin, an you id not report the widespread severe muscle and joint aches which we see with ARS.
3) What do you mean by it is "uncharacteristic of ARS" to start at 6 weeks? Can ARS start at 6 weeks (fever starting at 6 weeks) or is it too late? When does it start mostly? latest time for onset you;ve seen?
See above. No need for more of your "has it ever..." questions on this topic.
4) Around 7 weeks I also had a stiff neck and shoulder pain. I play tennis and sometimes have this pain? Is this consistent with the timeline and symptoms of ARS?
No, this is neither typical of the timeline of ARS nor the sorts of widespread muscle aches which are typical of ARS.
5) How does the ARS rash look like? can it be like mine?
The ARS rash is widespread, does not involve pimples, and is faint pink in color.
Now, again, please get a grip on yourself. Take a deep breath. Your exposure was no risk for HIV. The symptoms you have noticed are unrelated and would not have even occurred to you if you were not anxious about your exposure. If you cannot help your anxiety at this time, take an HIV test- not because there is any risk but to prove to yourself that you did not get HIV. If your symptoms were due to HIV, your test would be positive.
Oh, an one more thing- stay off the internet. It is full of well inteneded misinformation. EWH
Thanks for your reply Doctor.
I have a few follow up questions and would highly appreciate your response.
1)You are saying that HIV is not transmitted through clothing. What if I had an open sore in my hand and got in contact with sperm on his panties? Does that put me at risk? How long does sperm live on panties not in the body?
2) When you say that I have some but not all characteristics of ARS. What do you mean? Which ones?
3) What do you mean by it is "uncharacteristic of ARS" to start at 6 weeks? Can ARS start at 6 weeks (fever starting at 6 weeks) or is it too late? When does it start mostly? latest time for onset you;ve seen?
4) Around 7 weeks I also had a stiff neck and shoulder pain. I play tennis and sometimes have this pain? Is this consistent with the timeline and symptoms of ARS?
5) How does the ARS rash look like? can it be like mine?
Would appreciate your reply.
I have a few follow up questions and would highly appreciate your response.
1)You are saying that HIV is not transmitted through clothing. What if I had an open sore in my hand and got in contact with sperm on his panties? Does that put me at risk? How long does sperm live on panties not in the body?
2) When you say that I have some but not all characteristics of ARS. What do you mean? Which ones?
3) What do you mean by it is "uncharacteristic of ARS" to start at 6 weeks? Can ARS start at 6 weeks (fever starting at 6 weeks) or is it too late? When does it start mostly? latest time for onset you;ve seen?
4) Around 7 weeks I also had a stiff neck and shoulder pain. I play tennis and sometimes have this pain? Is this consistent with the timeline and symptoms of ARS?
5) How does the ARS rash look like? can it be like mine?
Would appreciate your reply.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
