AboutTerry B Expertise Help in assessing personal and professional risk of HIV transmission; tips in teaching about HIV/AIDS; cultural competency for teaching about HIV/AIDS in Catholic settings; considerations in US and overseas HIV/AIDS programs and education for health and other professionals. Specific questions about treatment should be referred to your health provider; opinions and information offered are not meant to replace medical advice
Experience Seven years with academic medical center and national AIDS education and training center, seven subsequent years with focus on international HIV/AIDS in East and South Africa. Former clinician, bioethics preceptor at an academic medical center and presenter in wide range of fora including international AIDS conference.
Organizations Disabled American Veterans
American Public Health Association
MENSA
AA
Publications Human Variety, EC Sociological Society
Proceedings of the International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa
"HIV and Primary Care"
Education/Credentials BS Psychology
MPH Master of Public Health
PhD studies underway
Awards and Honors Naval School of Health Sciences, Hospital Corps with Highest Honors, Neuropsychiatry with Honors and High Distinction
Question Hi there I need your help on this,In the last week of january this year i had i brief sexual encounter with a pros,and the condom broke after about 3 mins vag sex,we just replaced it with another one and carried on.In the first week of march i started experiencing symptoms like headache,cramps in the stomach,nasuea,and pain on the back and upper back,also pain in my upper right abdomen.Also i get a a sweaty forehead .Never any genital sores or rashes or fever or swollen lymph nodes.These symptoms went away but the headache stayed for about 10 days.Then the symptoms reappeared in may and have been every day, i get a pain in my abdomen when i wake up then it goes away for the whole day.After all these sypmtoms i have never lost my appetite,or lost weight,had anything swollen on my body or sores besides an ulcer in my mouth wich appeared last week.Can this be a sign of hiv infection?? please help with some advise or what do you think it could be??I have not been for a hiv test yet I am to scared at the moment.
Answer Dear Leon:
Peace and all good things to you. As you are probably aware, the South Africa rate of infection among women of child-bearing age is estimated at about 25% - but your use of a condom initially and replacement decreases the amount of fluids to which you were exposed and the duration of your exposure. Your symptoms suggest that something is wrong, and whether HIV or something else you need to see a physician. Despite the stigma around HIV, the work of church and NGOs in South Africa is quite progressive and testing is available in many places. As you know, this could be a number of things, many of which might be easily treated. If it is HIV (and the only way to tell is by a blood test) there are treatments available today that were not in 2003, the last time I was in Pretoria.
Short answer, your symptoms suggest something is wrong that would benefit from medical attention, it is impossible to tell if it is HIV without a blood test, but whatever it is might be easily treated and you are doing damage to your body by delaying.
South Africa is a huge country, so please consider looking to the SACBC AIDS Office for some direction in your local area. My experience is that they support only high quality programmes and excellent providers.
