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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Unprotected Oral Sex?
Question: I'm afraid I contracted HIV through unprotected oral sex. There was some ejaculation in my mouth (I swallowed it almost immediately). About 2 weeks later I had symptoms of what seemed like food poisoning (cramping, diarrhea). I expect it was since it started after I ate lunch from this deli. But I had 2 odd rashes on my stomach and chest. Both red with dark red dots. I also have OCD, so I am obsessing over this. I get tested every few months and if I have an encounter I feel odd about, I time out 12 weeks from the encounter.
Brief Answer:
Does not look concerning.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and have checked the attached images. I feel that the presentation is nothing but a food poisoning and has no relationship to the episode two weeks back. The rashes do not look concerning to me and are seemingly unrelated. In case they are itchy, application of calamine lotion and taking some antiallergic like cetirizine, should help.
I understand that you have OCD and are panicking over it but I would like to reassure you. It would perhaps be a good idea to visit a psychiatrist and get some medication for the same. It would greatly bring the anxiety down.
Instead of getting tested every few months it would perhaps be a good idea to modify your sexual activities slightly. Talk to your doctor and he would be able to guide you further so that you could practice safe sex and thereby be free of worries.
Regards
Does not look concerning.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and have checked the attached images. I feel that the presentation is nothing but a food poisoning and has no relationship to the episode two weeks back. The rashes do not look concerning to me and are seemingly unrelated. In case they are itchy, application of calamine lotion and taking some antiallergic like cetirizine, should help.
I understand that you have OCD and are panicking over it but I would like to reassure you. It would perhaps be a good idea to visit a psychiatrist and get some medication for the same. It would greatly bring the anxiety down.
Instead of getting tested every few months it would perhaps be a good idea to modify your sexual activities slightly. Talk to your doctor and he would be able to guide you further so that you could practice safe sex and thereby be free of worries.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I have modified sexual activities greatly. I had done some "experimenting" over the years and I have slept with men and women (I do not really like men that way, but I tried for the sake of trying).
So to conclude, you do not suspect HIV?
Also, may I ask one question: If I constantly press on my lymph nodes in my neck, will that be enough to cause enlargement?
So to conclude, you do not suspect HIV?
Also, may I ask one question: If I constantly press on my lymph nodes in my neck, will that be enough to cause enlargement?
Brief Answer:
Medical and psychiatric assistance still suggested.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. If you are practicing safe sex you would not be getting HIV. But safe sex does not include swallowing ejaculate. So, there is still room for modification and I would insist you to get your sexual practices reviewed.
The mentioned details are not indicative of HIV infection.
If you are pressing on a lymph node again and again, the OCD component is probably playing a role and the requirement of psychiatric assistance remains. However, merely pressing would not make the lymph node swell.
Regards
Medical and psychiatric assistance still suggested.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. If you are practicing safe sex you would not be getting HIV. But safe sex does not include swallowing ejaculate. So, there is still room for modification and I would insist you to get your sexual practices reviewed.
The mentioned details are not indicative of HIV infection.
If you are pressing on a lymph node again and again, the OCD component is probably playing a role and the requirement of psychiatric assistance remains. However, merely pressing would not make the lymph node swell.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
And my final question, does your answer change if I mention that my tongue was yellow (I also smoke, yes I know I should quit) and that I had a brief fever during the suspected food poisoning? Or a mild headache yesterday and today that disappeared and never came back after taking one dose of Aleve?
I understand that safe sex does not include that, but I was concerned that I may have contracted HIV. If I was your normal patient would you be concerned that I may have contracted it? I plan to get tested after the window period closes, but should I worry about it until 12 weeks have passed or are you still not concerned that these are caused by a recent HIV infection?
I understand that safe sex does not include that, but I was concerned that I may have contracted HIV. If I was your normal patient would you be concerned that I may have contracted it? I plan to get tested after the window period closes, but should I worry about it until 12 weeks have passed or are you still not concerned that these are caused by a recent HIV infection?
Brief Answer:
Stop worrying.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I understand your anxiety. However the present details do not seem to point to an HIV infection and the provided additional details do not change the scenario. I would insist you to stay relaxed.
Rather than the swallowed ejaculate, any minor injury to the mucus membrane of your oral cavity and tongue has more role to play. Anyway, stop worrying about it.
Regards
Stop worrying.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I understand your anxiety. However the present details do not seem to point to an HIV infection and the provided additional details do not change the scenario. I would insist you to stay relaxed.
Rather than the swallowed ejaculate, any minor injury to the mucus membrane of your oral cavity and tongue has more role to play. Anyway, stop worrying about it.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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