Can protected sex with a commercial sex worker lead to HIV?

Question

Hello doctor,

Seven months ago, I had protected sex with many commercial sex workers. I fingered them and touched my penis foreskin by mistake while removing the condom. I did an HIV test at seven weeks, and it was non-reactive. At six months also, it was non-reactive, and at seven months also non-reactive. But my test was a second-generation rapid antibody test, so is my test conclusive? Three years back, I was at a Christmas party, and one guy who had HIV shook my hand to wish me, and he was very sweaty. Not even a minute ago, I cut my thumb, it was bleeding, and the flesh could possibly be seen, so I was scared the other guy's sweat touched it. After 15 days, I have a fever, muscle pain, dry cough, sore throat, lump in my left jaw and neck, and also, the front of my ear is tender. I had a small rash that lasted for like 8 to 10 hours. Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat, so the person who shook hands with you cannot have passed the infection to you. If your tests after previous potential exposures were negative, they are conclusive. Regarding your current complaints, fever and sore throat can be associated with swollen lymph nodes as the body responds to fight the infection. I would still recommend you get your complete blood count done so that we can look at your blood parameters. You can take Paracetamol for fever, but I cannot comment on starting antibiotics as I do not exactly know how long you have had these symptoms.