HI DOCTOR; I'VE BEEN VERY WORRIED ABOUT A LOW RISK ENCOUNTER THAT I HAD A DAY AFTER NEW YEARS(ANAL FINGERING MAY HAVE BEEN PRE CUM THERE) FIVE DAYS AFTER I GOT AN ISOLATED SORE THROAT LASTED FOR ABOUT TREE DAYS THEN ON THAT THIRD DAY THAT NIGHT I GOT A FEVER AND A BAD HEAD ACHE THE FEVER WENT AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE HEAD ACHE WAS GONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THAT WITH ARS THEY NORMALLY COME ON TOGETHER AND DONT DISAPPAR OVER NIGHT; BUT WHEN I FIRST GOT THE SORE THROAT IT WAS BY ITS SELF FOR ATLEST THREE DAYS. I DID NOT GET A RASH NOR Swollen Lymph Noses AND DO NOT RECALL ANY muscle aches and pains.I READ THAT IN ARS BESIDES FEVER MOST PEOPLE GET THESE SYMPTOMS THE MOST.DO THESE SOUND LIKE "ARS" TO YOU EVERY ONE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BUT THE FACT THAT I GOT SICK A WEEK AFTER THE FINGERING JUST MAKES ME REALLY SCARED!!! PLEASE HELP ME I CAN NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT

I agree that the symptoms you describe are not very specific and do not suggest ARS. Also it was a bit fast to develop and resolve these symptoms. Since it has already been 4 weeks since the episode, you can have an HIV test to check your status going forward and be sure to practice safer sex.

Best, JOe