RISKS AND SYMPTOMS

[premier2124]

Okay I had recieved oral sex from two different girls  one just before christmas and one 4 weeks ago.  I have had a lot of anxiety since both.  Same day I had contact with 2nd girl  I started to have a dry and sore throat.  That lasted roughly about 5 days.  I live in Wisconsin very cold.  After a week I started to have plugged up ears and sinus infection.  I am a smoker also.  I have been to the doctor 4 times and they put me on amoxicillan for 10 days, that cleared up my chest and I am not coughing up much anymore.  My ears have been plugged still for just under 4 weeks but is fixed with advil cold and sinus.  My doctor tells me plenty of colds can last 4-6 weeks.  I have not had a fever at any point that I have found and I check my temperature everyday numerous times.  They have checked my lymph nodes in my neck and none are swollen per 4 different doctors.  I have anxiety issues and have for about 3 years now but it was under control until this sickness won't go away.  Do these symtoms (sinus infection,cough,and sore throat resemble hiv infection?  Are these symptoms of hiv infection and what are my chances of getting hiv from recieving oral sex twice and giving oral sex to one of the girls.  No vaginal or anal sex at all were performed.  I am a male and full of anxiety.  Please give me your thoughts on my situation, THANKS

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.  Bottom line: it is exceedingly unlikely you have HIV.

HIV is rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex, at least from an oral to penile partner.  Some experts believe it never happens at all, and others cite CDC estimate of an average risk of 1 in 20,000 -- if the oral partner has HIV.  How low is 1 in 20,000?  It's equivalent to receiving B-J's once daily by HIV infected partners for 55 years before infection might be expected.  As for oral sex on female partners (cunnilingus), I believe it remains true that there has never been a known case of HIV transmission, in either direction.

Further, HIV remains rare in most women in the North America, Western Europe, and industrialized countries in general.  There's probably less than 1 chance in 1,000 either of your partners had HIV -- and probably even lower than that in the upper midwest of the US.

As for your symptoms, neither HIV nor anything else can start to cause symptoms in less than a day after exposure; that's too quick even for the common cold.  Cold symptoms, chest congestion, and "sinus" symptoms (post nasal drip, etc) aren't typical for acute HIV anyway.  I agree entirely with your own doctor.

Since you're nervous about it, have an HIV test.  You can expect negative results for sure.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Symptoms almost never are helpful in judging whether or not someone has a new HIV infection.  The identical symptoms occur not only with HIV, but with most infections of all kinds, and with anxiety, endocrine disorders, and many other things.  That said, your symptoms simply do not sound at all like those of a new HIV infection.  And as I said, I agree with your doctor.  A particular cold doesn't usually last 4 weeks, but colds often trigger allergic symptoms that are more or less the same and can go on for months.  As for why your doctor asked about mouth sores, I can't say exactly.  But it doesn't suggest he was worried about HIV.  And of course if he WERE worried about HIV, he would have tested you for it.

Glad to have helped, both now and 2 years ago.  However, I don't see any other threads with your username.  Was it deleted for some reason?  Or do you have more than one account?  MedHelp doesn't permit users to sign up with more than one username and may be in touch with you and delete one account or the other.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

OK, no problem.  Take care.

[premier2124]

No same account, actually when I got on I put in my email to get my username and password reset.  Because it had been so long.  I probably deleted it.  I had a lot of anxiety back then and probably deleted it just to not look at it anymore, not sure really though.  But defenitely have only had one account.  Thanks,  

[premier2124]

I asked you questions about 2 years ago and you were a great help then also.  Its nice to have a doctor to be straight with you.  THanks

[premier2124]

Thank you very much.  Very Appreciated!!  Will not bother you again unless something else comes up.  I didn't tell you but I also have been getting headaches but I do feel a twist in my neck I think that needs to be adjusted.  I get Headaches common.  But also on my forehead I have this a couple of red patches that get worse when I get really stressed.  I have had them before but are those symptoms at all??  You also might not be able to answer this question but Is it really normal for somepeople to have a cold and then sinus and ears plugged for 4 weeks or more.  It is winter here.  But my doctor always gets me in and out so quick I don't even get to ask questions.  Also my doctor asked me if I had any mouth sores last time I was in.  Why would a doctor ask that??  I don't have any and haven't had any but why would he ask??  I should have asked him but i didn't.  THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN!!  As I said I will not bother again!!!