Dear Doctor,
I am writing to ask your help regarding HIV and testing.
In early February this year I was working in Thailand and very stupidly had unprotected sex on one occasion with a girl. The day after the unsafe sex I came down with quite bad symptoms including fever, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, painful joints and diarrhea. Most of these cleared up within a week although some did persisted for longer.
Needless to say I have been very anxious and concerned about HIV over the past few months. At one week the girl I had the encounter with agreed to accompany me to the local hospital and get tested. They conducted a blood antibody test which was Negative as well as Negative results for Hep B+C and Syphilis.
I have had three subsequent tests - an HIV antibody/p24 antigen duo test at 4 weeks which was Negative - and two finger prick antibody tests at 5 weeks and 8 weeks which were also Negative.
My questions doctor are;
1. Do you think the tests I have had so far are conclusive or do you still recommend testing at 3 months?
2. I know some people do not exhibit any symptoms when first infected, but is it possible to experience ARS symptoms within a day or so of contracting the virus?
3. My lips have become very dry over the past few months and I feel my skin has become lighter. Could these be symptoms of HIV?
4. Although the girl's test at 1 week was negative, I am right in thinking that wouldn't rule out completely the possibility that she was infected at the time?
Many Thanks Doctor,