Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Prevention, Transmission and Testing => Am I Infected? => Topic started by: fronctol on April 10, 2017, 01:28:11 pm
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Hello,
I've visited a sex massage parlor and managed to pop a pimple on my back with a towel after showering. First, I lay on my stomach upon a towel-covered bed. As the sex worker prepared to apply the oil, she noticed I was bleeding from my back and announced that she was going to apply oil around that area and skip it. At a certain point she began rubbing her genitalia against my lower back(away from the pimple), after which I flipped on my back, at which point she proceeded to give me a handjob. There was no penetration. I tried to stay on the towels that covered the bed, and I hope I managed; however, I fear that I might have somehow touched the open pimple to parts of the towel that could have soaked her vaginal fluids mixed with the oil from my back, seeing as I twitched and once tried to rearrange the towels.
That was just short of two weeks ago. The very next day saw the onset of a general itch all over my body, and a headache accompanied by intermittent dull throbs in my ears developed perhaps as early as that same day. Perhaps there was also a slight increase of body temperature to around 37C(98.6F) present, but I cannot say for sure. Possibly by that time pressure in the ears has build up somewhat and a very low-intensity dry cough, sneezing, running of the nose, and inflammation of the throat became just barely noticeable. Day 8 saw an increase in temperature to above 37.5C(99.5F). Heartburn and nausea also began that day. Finally, day 11 saw the onset of frequent watery diarrhea and pressure in the upper stomach area, right side. Temperature was 37.2C(98.96F). Now, the temperature seems to have dropped to a normal value and the diarrhea to be abating along with other symptoms, except for the cough and throat inflammation(which have possibly worsened a bit). Whether or not I've noticed a rash, I honestly cannot tell(there are several suspicious, extremely faint blotches on my back and chest, but these are areas where I've always had pimples, plus this is mosquito season). The doctor said it was a rash.
My questions are:
(1)In light of this description, are the chances of infection high?
(2)How soon can I get reliably tested with an antibody and an RNA PCR test ,respectively, and is it enough to book HCV and HBV PCR tests only?
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(1)In light of this description, are the chances of infection high?
Hep c requires blood to blood contact. Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream of an uninfected person.
You odds are about zero.
(2)How soon can I get reliably tested with an antibody and an RNA PCR test ,respectively, and is it enough to book HCV and HBV PCR tests only?
You do not need hep c antibody testing from this incident and therefore you do not need HCV RNA testing. If you just want to test for your general peace of mind or to make sure you have never infected at some other time in your life you can wait at a minimum of 12 weeks for the Hep c antibody test or wait up ton6 months to have total confidence your body has had enough time to develop antibodies as it can take as long as 6 months in those who have a compromised immune system.
Please note 98.6 F is a normal temperature and the minimally elevated temp you listed of 99.5 is basically meaningless it does not qualify as an elevated temperature until at least greater than 100 F
The symptoms you listed are not symptoms of any type of hepatitis.
We here are not medical professionals for a better answer to a medical question you should speak with a doctor.
As your doctor has said he believes you have a rash I would go with what he said. Also sounds like you may have a cold and some upset stomach problems.