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Rash after protected sex with HIV+
The Body: Rick Sowadsky M.S.P.H., C.D.S, Answers to Safe Sex Questions
Jan 9, 1997
About a month ago, I engaged in penetrating anal sex with an HIV+ male.
I was not penetrated. A condom was used and it remained intact. Other
activities included deep kissing, masturbation and fingering of my anus.
About a week later, I developed a rash at the base of my penis. This
rash was cultured and is not herpes. It has cleared up with cortisone
cream on my penis but has spread to the thigh. Additionally, one month
later, I came down with the flu. It started with a cough, which
worsened, then became a fever of 101 for about 2 days. I have been
exposed to the flu so expect that but am not sure. I will be tested
later but am running scared with the symptoms, i.e., rash and flu. I
have has eczema before but not at the base of my penis, or scrotum. Is
this consistent with HIV?
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Response from Mr. Sowadsky
Hi. Thank you for your questions.
Having a rash near the penis is not consistent with recent HIV infection.
Also having flu-like symptoms does not necessarily indicate recent HIV
infection either. The Question, Acute Retroviral Syndrome, dated January
3, 1997, goes into the details of recent HIV infection in greater detail. If
you had protected intercourse, and your only other activities were kissing,
masturbation and fingering, you would be considered at low risk for HIV. If
you are still concerned about HIV, if you wait 6 months after the encounter
and get tested, the tests are more than 99% accurate in determining whether
you are infected with HIV or not.
If your rash is continuing or spreading, you still need to seek medical
attention, regardless of what you think the problem may be. But having a
rash, or even flu-like symptoms, does not necessarily indicate HIV infection.
Because symptoms of recent HIV infection look exactly like the symptoms of
many other illnesses, NOBODY can tell you whether your symptoms are due to
HIV or not. Only HIV testing can determine if a person has HIV or not. In
the meantime, if you think you've been exposed, assume that you're infected
until a 6 month test indicates otherwise.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Centers for Disease Control at 1.800.232.4636 (Nationwide).
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Response from Mr. Sowadsky
