High Blood Count and Symptoms? HIV?

[es84help]

28 days ago I had a stupid encountered with another men. My butt was exposed while he rubbed his crotch against it (he was wearing his pants). He fingered me once. I believe he never penetrated because I could feel the seam of the jeans. I think I would know if he penetrated me, it would have been noticeable. Plus he had a small penis which I think I would had needed to adjust to make sure it went in. I'm worried if he had precum/cum on his finger when fingering me.

This week (3-4 weeks later) I woke up with a nasty headache one morning, then the next day had the beginning of a sore throat. Now I have a running nose, coughing, yellow/orange phlegm and plugged ears. I went to the doctor this morning. He said it's a viral infection. I did not mention my sexual encountered because from what I read in this forum sounds as if it's impossible for me to have gotten HIV that way. My doctor ordered blood work to be done. Got them too - I noticed that my WBC's was out of range at 14.6 (standard average is 4.0-11.0). Could this be an indicator? I have read that symptoms start around 2-4 weeks later. I'm very scared and concerned. Do I have HIV? Please help. I have had no fever, diarrhea or night sweats.

[HowardH]

And anyway, you have another obvious explanation for your high WBC, i.e. the respiratory infection. Worrying about HIV in this situation reminds me of a patient who has just been clubbed with a baseball bat and is worried his headache might be from a brain tumor.

[HowardH]

I don't know much more about WBC and HIV than I have already said. But I'm pretty sure that elevated WBC is not usually a feature of new HIV infections.

There is no way you could have caught HIV.  Should you have a positive HIV test someday, it would be necessary to explore other possible exposures. The one described here would never be accepted by any counselor or HIV health worker as the explanation.

You can have a 100% definitive test right now. The 4th generation (also called duo or combo) test is conclusive any time 4 weeks or more after exposure.

[es84help]

Thank you for your reply. Could you share briefly how white blood cells play a role in HIV and at what stage? I always thought that they increased in the beginning. I'm very worried - I just found out I will be a father and want to put this scare behind me. At what time can I test?

[HowardH]

There was no risk of HIV from this exposure. Your symptoms are typical for a garden variety cold maybe with bronchitis; I see no reason to doubt your doctor's diagnosis. Acute HIV infections don't cause cough, runny nose, or phlegm. Your WBC count indeed is quite high, but it's from the respiratory infection. (HIV actually tends to lower WBC counts, not elevate them.) Speak with your doc about whether the high WBC indicates a possible need for an antibiotic. But still no reason to be worried about HIV.