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HIV Scare in Houston
To Forum Doctor,
I am writing to get advice on potential HIV exposure that I may have had. I am in my first year of college in Houston, Texas. And I feel that I have done something which may cost me my life. I can
I am writing to get advice on potential HIV exposure that I may have had. I am in my first year of college in Houston, Texas. And I feel that I have done something which may cost me my life. I can
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, by the time I got to your question, you had an earful of pretty accurate assessments and reommendations from several forum users.
You are focusing on mere coincidence. First, your symptoms don't sound particularly like ARS, regardless of what you have read. For example, nobody with ARS gets a runny/stuffy nose. You got a cold or allergy, nothing more. Two events that happen near each other in time aren't necessarily causally related.
Second, your sexual exposure was safe. Even if the woman you had sex with was HIV positive and you didn't use a condom, your risk of getting HIV probalbly is around 1 in 1000. And the odds probably are 100 to one she didn't have HIV (in most commercial sex workers in the US, around 1% are infected). And you did use a condom, which is virtually 100% protective when properly used and it doesn't break.
Specific replies to your questions:
1) Does this sound like ARS? No. Your doctor was right.
2) You didn't need the PCR test; I would have recommended against it. In fact, I would have recommended against any HIV test at all, including the standard antibody test, except for the fact that you'd be a basket case without having the lab test confirmation--in other words, I would have tested you only for your peace of mind, not because I suspected you were infected. Nevertheless, the negative PCR result provides further reassurance you don't have HIV.
3) I'm not terribly familiar with the quantitative PCR test. In fact, I have never ordered one on a patient. But I believe your doctor is right.
4) No; see above.
5) If you will sleep better having even more negative test results, feel free to test yourself as much as you want. The official recommendation from most experts is to have a test at 3 months; but in fact virtually all infected persons are positive by 6 weeks, with modern tests. (We're talking here about the standard antibody test, not PCR.)
Definitely do not go surfing the web for more information. You will find much more information that alarms rather than reassures you. This really is not worth losing any sleep over. You're fine.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are focusing on mere coincidence. First, your symptoms don't sound particularly like ARS, regardless of what you have read. For example, nobody with ARS gets a runny/stuffy nose. You got a cold or allergy, nothing more. Two events that happen near each other in time aren't necessarily causally related.
Second, your sexual exposure was safe. Even if the woman you had sex with was HIV positive and you didn't use a condom, your risk of getting HIV probalbly is around 1 in 1000. And the odds probably are 100 to one she didn't have HIV (in most commercial sex workers in the US, around 1% are infected). And you did use a condom, which is virtually 100% protective when properly used and it doesn't break.
Specific replies to your questions:
1) Does this sound like ARS? No. Your doctor was right.
2) You didn't need the PCR test; I would have recommended against it. In fact, I would have recommended against any HIV test at all, including the standard antibody test, except for the fact that you'd be a basket case without having the lab test confirmation--in other words, I would have tested you only for your peace of mind, not because I suspected you were infected. Nevertheless, the negative PCR result provides further reassurance you don't have HIV.
3) I'm not terribly familiar with the quantitative PCR test. In fact, I have never ordered one on a patient. But I believe your doctor is right.
4) No; see above.
5) If you will sleep better having even more negative test results, feel free to test yourself as much as you want. The official recommendation from most experts is to have a test at 3 months; but in fact virtually all infected persons are positive by 6 weeks, with modern tests. (We're talking here about the standard antibody test, not PCR.)
Definitely do not go surfing the web for more information. You will find much more information that alarms rather than reassures you. This really is not worth losing any sleep over. You're fine.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
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.
