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Risk scenarios and possible kaposi's spots
Hi doc, I am worried about occuring spots on my body, which I believe may be kaposi's sarcoma. My potential exposure was in October of 08, which was only male penis to penis rubbing but I believe I had a herpes outbreak on the rise or even during due to pain and irritation on the penis. A week or so later, horrible flu like symptoms which lasted about half a week, painful tender groin lymph nodes, and my first herpes outbreak. I believe this could have also been brought on by having recieved oral from a girl with a cold sore on her lip. Unsure which scenario could have caused the symptoms. Anyhow, if a herpes sore was present during the male rubbing and semen got into it, is that a risk scenario? Also, I had an approx. 6-8 hour minor puncture wound on my thumb (non bleeding) where semen may have entered. Risk? His status is unknown, though I do know he has played around in the gay community. I've caught him in many lies which is why I don't bother asking his status.
As for these spots, they are flat, oblong shaped, dominantly red somewhat purple in some lighting, do not irritate or cause any discomfort. I have a total of 3 which each one appeared over night at different times. The eldest have been there over a month with no change. I have no other physical symptoms, feel healthy energy levels great healthy diet ect. I tested negative in Oct. 08, but window period wasn't met. Here I am a year and a half later and haven't re-tested out of fear. I have read KS is a late symptom but have also read it can occur ANYTIME during hiv infection. Which is it? Any insight doctor? Thank you.
As for these spots, they are flat, oblong shaped, dominantly red somewhat purple in some lighting, do not irritate or cause any discomfort. I have a total of 3 which each one appeared over night at different times. The eldest have been there over a month with no change. I have no other physical symptoms, feel healthy energy levels great healthy diet ect. I tested negative in Oct. 08, but window period wasn't met. Here I am a year and a half later and haven't re-tested out of fear. I have read KS is a late symptom but have also read it can occur ANYTIME during hiv infection. Which is it? Any insight doctor? Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum. I reviewed your discussion on the HIV community forum and agree with the opinions and advice you received there.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare outcome of HIV, limited mostly to gay men with HIV. (You don't say your sex. Male or female?) That's because KS is caused by a particular virus, called human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), also called (logically) the Kaposi sarcoma virus (KSV). HHV-8/KSV is rare in heterosexuals but very common among gay men. So even in people with advanced AIDS, women and heterosexual men don't get KS, or only rarely. And although you are correct that KS can occur relatively early in the course of someone's HIV infection, that is very rare; the large majority of cases occur as late manifestations of HIV/AIDS, i.e. several years after infection.
Equally important, your description of yoru skin lesions is consistent with a number of skin conditions other than KS. And as you have been told, your exposure a year and half ago was low risk for HIV, if I correctly understand that it did not include penile-vaginal or penile-anal intercourse.
Finally, I have to wonder why you are spending time and energy trying to figure this out on line. Presumably you have not had an HIV test, or you would have mentioned it. That is obviously the thing to do for reassurance you don't have HIV. As for the skin lesions, see a provider in person. You're never going to get a clear answer in this or any other online forum or website. A dermatologist would be ideal, but most physicians probably would be able to tell what you have.
Feel free to return with a follow-up comment after you have been professionally examined and/or have had an HIV test. In the meantime, it seems exceedingly unlikely you have either HIV or KS.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare outcome of HIV, limited mostly to gay men with HIV. (You don't say your sex. Male or female?) That's because KS is caused by a particular virus, called human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), also called (logically) the Kaposi sarcoma virus (KSV). HHV-8/KSV is rare in heterosexuals but very common among gay men. So even in people with advanced AIDS, women and heterosexual men don't get KS, or only rarely. And although you are correct that KS can occur relatively early in the course of someone's HIV infection, that is very rare; the large majority of cases occur as late manifestations of HIV/AIDS, i.e. several years after infection.
Equally important, your description of yoru skin lesions is consistent with a number of skin conditions other than KS. And as you have been told, your exposure a year and half ago was low risk for HIV, if I correctly understand that it did not include penile-vaginal or penile-anal intercourse.
Finally, I have to wonder why you are spending time and energy trying to figure this out on line. Presumably you have not had an HIV test, or you would have mentioned it. That is obviously the thing to do for reassurance you don't have HIV. As for the skin lesions, see a provider in person. You're never going to get a clear answer in this or any other online forum or website. A dermatologist would be ideal, but most physicians probably would be able to tell what you have.
Feel free to return with a follow-up comment after you have been professionally examined and/or have had an HIV test. In the meantime, it seems exceedingly unlikely you have either HIV or KS.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This forum doesnt speculate on non-HIV causes of symptoms -- especially for skin conditions, since I'm not a dermatologist. And I'm not going to risk reinforcing your hope of learning a diagnosis without seeing a health care provider in person.
You're basically right about HIV transmission among men. Oral sex is a theoretical risk but extremely rarely results in HIV transmission. This has been discussed innumerable times on this forum; scan the threads or use the search link to find hundreds of threads.
I already described the timing of KS in HIV/AIDS. I'm not going to repeat myself.
I'll be happy to make one last comment if you want to accept my invitation above, to tell me your HIV test result and/or your report of a professional evaluation. Otherwise, that's all for this thread.
You're basically right about HIV transmission among men. Oral sex is a theoretical risk but extremely rarely results in HIV transmission. This has been discussed innumerable times on this forum; scan the threads or use the search link to find hundreds of threads.
I already described the timing of KS in HIV/AIDS. I'm not going to repeat myself.
I'll be happy to make one last comment if you want to accept my invitation above, to tell me your HIV test result and/or your report of a professional evaluation. Otherwise, that's all for this thread.
Alright doctor so I am gathering that without penile anal intercourse, man to man transfer isn't a concern? Also, even in homosexual men, KS is rarely seen until late stage hiv/years after infection? And alas, you mentioned my skin condition is consistent with other conditions, can you please name any? Thank you doctor.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
In looking back at your community forum discussions, I see you are male. As a man having sex with other men, the chance you have HIV is elevated compared with heterosexual men and women. But of course this depends on your sexual history. If your sexual encounter in 10/08 is your only one, with other men, then almost certainly you are not infected. Of course if you have had unprotected anal sex with men, in particular casual partners of unknown HIV status, then you are at substantial risk. Either way, you should be HIV tested and see a provider about your skin spots.
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