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Irrational Fear
Drs.
I recently accepted a position that requires me to take an HIV test (along with a whole barrage of other tests) in order to be posted abroad. I had an HIV test about a year and a half ago which was negative. I have been in a monogamous relationship for over 4 years.
The reason I am nervous is that I underwent a dental procedure about a year ago. Three weeks later I came down with a sore throat and what I believe was nasal drip. No fever though. The symptoms only lasted about a day and a half and went away on their own and I didn't think anything of it.
Once I was told that an HIV test would be involved with my medical I developed an irrational fear regarding my dental experience after reading in the news about healthcare providers that are being sanctioned for using unsterile equipment. I guess my question is - Am I being irrational even worrying about this? Is it even possible to be infected by HIV in a healthcare setting?
I think I am just looking for some reassurance.
Thank You Doctors
I recently accepted a position that requires me to take an HIV test (along with a whole barrage of other tests) in order to be posted abroad. I had an HIV test about a year and a half ago which was negative. I have been in a monogamous relationship for over 4 years.
The reason I am nervous is that I underwent a dental procedure about a year ago. Three weeks later I came down with a sore throat and what I believe was nasal drip. No fever though. The symptoms only lasted about a day and a half and went away on their own and I didn't think anything of it.
Once I was told that an HIV test would be involved with my medical I developed an irrational fear regarding my dental experience after reading in the news about healthcare providers that are being sanctioned for using unsterile equipment. I guess my question is - Am I being irrational even worrying about this? Is it even possible to be infected by HIV in a healthcare setting?
I think I am just looking for some reassurance.
Thank You Doctors
Just got the test results back. Negative like you said!
It has helped a lot! Thank you Doctor!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
You correctly describe your fear as irrational.
There is only one known case of HIV transmission in a dental office, back in the early days of AIDS (before 1990, as I recall). The dentist died of AIDS before the mystery was formally solved. However, the clear probability -- and the consensus of experts at CDC and elsewhere who knew the details of the case -- is that the dentist intentionally injected his own blood serum into the young women who develop HIV and died of AIDS. Nobody else has ever been known to catch HIV from a dental procedures. That includes the case a few months ago, when there was news about a dentist sanctioned for poor technique in sterilization: none of the dentist's patients has been reported to have acquired HIV or other blood borne infection (hep B or C).
As for your symptoms, HIV doesn't cause nasal drip. It can cause sore throat, fever, muscle aches, and certain other "flu-like" symptoms -- those symptoms do not include nasal congestion, drip, or "sinus" symptoms, or cough.
In other words, your anxiety over your HIV test results is unfounded both on the virtual impossibility you were infected, and on account of your symptoms, which did not suggest an HIV infection.
Assuming you aren't otherwise at risk for HIV on account of your sexual lifestyle, drug use, etc, you definitely can count on a negative result of your HIV test.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You correctly describe your fear as irrational.
There is only one known case of HIV transmission in a dental office, back in the early days of AIDS (before 1990, as I recall). The dentist died of AIDS before the mystery was formally solved. However, the clear probability -- and the consensus of experts at CDC and elsewhere who knew the details of the case -- is that the dentist intentionally injected his own blood serum into the young women who develop HIV and died of AIDS. Nobody else has ever been known to catch HIV from a dental procedures. That includes the case a few months ago, when there was news about a dentist sanctioned for poor technique in sterilization: none of the dentist's patients has been reported to have acquired HIV or other blood borne infection (hep B or C).
As for your symptoms, HIV doesn't cause nasal drip. It can cause sore throat, fever, muscle aches, and certain other "flu-like" symptoms -- those symptoms do not include nasal congestion, drip, or "sinus" symptoms, or cough.
In other words, your anxiety over your HIV test results is unfounded both on the virtual impossibility you were infected, and on account of your symptoms, which did not suggest an HIV infection.
Assuming you aren't otherwise at risk for HIV on account of your sexual lifestyle, drug use, etc, you definitely can count on a negative result of your HIV test.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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