Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 9/16/2006

Question
Hello,

I was hoping that I could get some information regarding a situation of mine.  About 6 weeks ago I preformed oral sex on a male whose HIV status was unknown.  He ejaculated into my mouth, and I swallowed.  About 20 minutes later, I had a popsicle which kind of irritated the top of my mouth.  Here are my questions:

1) Realistically, how worried should I be after this specific encounter?  Is testing warranted?

2) Does the irritated roof of my mouth put me at a higher risk? Is the infection still present in my mouth after 20 minutes, or how air/saliva killed it?

3) About 5-7 days after I had a really bad sore throat and cough.  Are these symptoms suggestive of HIV and do they happen so quickly afterwards?

Please any sound information and advice would be appreciated.  I am not sure where to go from here and am very worried.  Thank you!

Answer
Whenever infected semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk and/or blood enter another person's body, transmission is possible. Unprotected oral sex carries less risk than unprotected vaginal and anal sex- but it does carry risk.

Sores, cuts or other artificial openings to the body provide another entry route for the virus. Air and saliva do not kill HIV.

Some people develop acute viral syndrome after being infected with HIV which means they come down with symptoms similar to those of the flu around the time of infection. HIV symptoms, however, do not develop for years.