Possible exposure

[PDamon]

Dear Sir,

I have a considerable health anxiety, I have had it for years. This worry has been on and off for the past 9 years. 9 years ago I had unprotected vaginal sex with a girl who was about 19 or 20 years old, which was in the UK. About 4 weeks ago, I noticed a small round sore on my lower side, red, swollen ring around the edge. As I always do I researched the internet for a possible cause. It appeared to be 'ringworm, however, after researching the internet my worries have increased. There appears to be a link between ringworm and HIV, which has been worrying me since reading it. The ringworm appeared to heal and fade after about 2 weeks and just looks like a blemish atm, I didn't apply any cream, I just left it to heal. Just worried if this could be a HIV symptom or not. I don't think I have any other STD's, my girlfriend (who I have been with for 9 ish years) was tested for all STI's about 4 years ago, which included an HIV test. I want to get tested but my anxiety is out of control atm, any advice would be welcomed.

Thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Ringworm does not suggest HIV.

You opened your original question with the main health problem you face, i.e. your health related anxiety.  It is obviously quite severe, to the extent that you seem completely incapable of accepting any reassuring information either from me or your own health care providers.  Please seek counseling to address it.  Whether you do so or not, you may not take up my time or this forum's resources to deal with it or to ask for reassurance that you should not need.

Feel free to return one more time to post the result of an HIV test, which you can expect to be negative. If you post anything else at all, the entire thread will be immediately deleted without reply.  And do not be tempted to start a new thread with the same questions.  It would suffer the same fate, without refund of your posting feel.

[PDamon]

Hi, I checked with a health care worker, even though she was not 100% sure about the rash, she thought it was ringworm. I'm starting to worry alot now, i really want to get tested but my nerves are driving me insane. Is it true ringworm is related to hiv? OR would there be other symptoms?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Sorry, I thought you had an HIV test a few years ago.  Since you're worried, have one now.  You can expect it to be negative.

Report back if and when you have been tested, or if you have seen a health care provider about the blemish (but not until then).  It does not suggest HIV.

[PDamon]

Dear Dr,

Could you please re-read my post, not sure if you have miss read it or i have not explained myself fully. Firstly, i have never had an HIV test and I dont have a blemish on my penis, the blemish is on my lower side. If you could please re-read my original post and offer any advise that would be great.

Thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your blood test results prove you did not catch HIV during the sexual exposure 9 years ago.  If you have not otherwise been sexually active and do not share injection equipment with other persons, it is not possible you caught HIV elsewhere.  Further, a single blemish on the penis -- whether due to ringworm or something else -- cannot possibly be the only symptom of an HIV infection.  Therefore, whatever is causing your penile blemish cannot be due to HIV.  See a health care provider to determine the cause of the blemish -- and if you cannot shake your fear of HIV, just ask for another HIV test.  You can be sure of a negative result, and that will be much more likely to calm your anxieties than anything I can say.

So feel free to return to tell me the result of professional examination and/or a new HIV test.  Until then, I will have no further comments on this thread.

Good luck--  HHH, MD