Onset of ARS symptoms

[Dansant]

I understand that discussing symptoms is completely unreliable and against the rules.

However, this website states that ARS symptoms may occur a few days after exposure to HIV. "In rare instances they may occur within a few days after the exposure has taken place."

This has given me a lot of anxiety because I developed symptoms 3 days after a possible exposure, and I'm currently waiting for my RNA test results. 

The vast majority of websites say that if ARS symptoms occur, they happen 2-6 weeks after exposure. None of them say in rare cases symptoms could happen a few days after a possible exposure. In fact, the earliest I've seen a website say ARS symptoms could occur (besides this website) is one week after exposure. Most websites say the minimum amount of time is around 10 days.

So I guess my question is -- what evidence does this website have to say in rare cases symptoms could occur a few days after an exposure? Is this theoretical or based on evidence?

It is my understanding that the human body would not show ARS symptoms "a few days" after exposure. Furthermore, every HIV specialist I've spoken to has said they have never seen symptoms show up before 2 weeks, and that my 3 day onset of symptoms is too soon.

Is there a reason this website includes such a vague statement? How rare would it be to show symptoms "within a few days" -- how many days is "a few days"? What evidence or studies support this claim?

Thanks for your help and clarification.

[RapidRod]

If one does have ARS symptoms, they come 2-4 weeks post exposure and last 1-2 weeks. Now did you have an exposure that you would like to discuss?

[Dansant]

I have discussed my exposure with my doctor and I have been tested. I'm currently awaiting my results. What I am trying to clarify is why this website says in regards to ARS symptoms, "In rare instances they may occur within a few days after the exposure has taken place."

If you believe definitively that symptoms only occur 2-4 weeks post exposure, why does this website say in rare instance ARS symptoms can occur within a few days after the exposure? Is this accounting for the theoretical possibility?

Can we ask the person who wrote the page on ARS symptoms why they said, "In rare instances they may occur within a few days after the exposure has taken place."...?

I'm truly curious what evidence or support is being used to make that statement.

[RapidRod]

Symptoms or lack of will never tell you anything about your status. ARS is not diagonosed until after you test positive and it's confirmed.

[Ann]

Dan,

"Rare instances" means just that - rare. You will find outliers in just about any medical situation on the face of the earth. Here is one cause I can think of off the top of my head:

Being infected with a large amount of virus, which may happen between two injecting drug users who are sharing needles when the first person to use the needle has an extremely high viral load. When needles are shared immediately, left-over blood in the syringe is injected directly into the bloodstream. This isn't the same as sexual transmission.

You need to understand that the symptoms some - not all - people experience during ARS are NOT due to the virus itself. They are due to the process the body goes through while producing antibodies. There has to be a fair amount of virus in the body before this process is triggered, therefore it's mainly going to happen early when the initial transmission included a huge amount of viable virus. And yes, this can happen, but it is RARE.

I have to wonder why you're being so circumspect regarding telling us what you believe put you at risk. In my experience (eleven years and counting) on this forum, that mainly happens when the person knows deep down that they didn't have one.

Ann