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Can HIV Symptoms Last For 6 To 7 Weeks?
Question: I was in Sub-saharan XXXXXXX 4months ago and I had unprotected fellatio from a street hooker where I was the insertive partner. I lasted for about 5 mins I didn’t ejaculate in her mouth though. 7-8weeks later I got some weird symptoms similar to what I read in the internet could be ARS. I tested twice with Oraquick. The first test was at 85days and the second one was at 101days. Both tests where Neg-. I’m still concern about hiv and having hard time trusting my result. Do I need further testing? And can hiv symptoms last for 6-7weeks because I’m having symptoms like dry and itchy throat, muscle tickling, stiff neck and headaches.
Brief Answer:
No worries, low risk activities, get HIV test when possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello, This is Dr Matin and will be answering your queries.
Sub-Saharan XXXXXXX countries' prevalence rates of HIV /AIDS are high and in CSWs still higher. You had a fellatio (oral sex) which is a lower risk activity and were the insertive partner ,this puts you at a lower risk , but for sure these are no 'zero' risk activities.
ARS symptoms usually do not last 7-8 weeks, HIV can't be diagnosed by symptoms as it causes general symptoms and the only way to say whether you carry the virus is to test your blood for HIV.
If you are in XXXXXXX , then kindly get your blood tested for HIV at least once .
Hope this helps.
Regards
DR MATIN
No worries, low risk activities, get HIV test when possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello, This is Dr Matin and will be answering your queries.
Sub-Saharan XXXXXXX countries' prevalence rates of HIV /AIDS are high and in CSWs still higher. You had a fellatio (oral sex) which is a lower risk activity and were the insertive partner ,this puts you at a lower risk , but for sure these are no 'zero' risk activities.
ARS symptoms usually do not last 7-8 weeks, HIV can't be diagnosed by symptoms as it causes general symptoms and the only way to say whether you carry the virus is to test your blood for HIV.
If you are in XXXXXXX , then kindly get your blood tested for HIV at least once .
Hope this helps.
Regards
DR MATIN
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you. I live in the US, and currently can’t have a blood test because I don’t have insurance and there are no confidencial testing centres where I live. So the only test available and convenient at this is the Oraquick. I’ll be travel to a bigger town in 1 month time to get a blood test. But what are other STDs do you recommend I should test for? And pleasedo people get HIV this way? Thank you.
And should I still be concern about HIV?
And should I still be concern about HIV?
Brief Answer: Oraquick is OK, not perfect, risks of transmission are low.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your response.
HIV is transmitted through infected blood, sex with infected persons, infected needles and to babies through infected mother. Now there comes the risk of acquiring HIV . As far as getting through sex ,anal sex (receptive) is considered riskiest while oral sex (insertive) carry the lowest risk , now as already stated low risk is not a zero risk.
Again the prevalence of the place where you are exposed matters too and sub saharan countries are on the higher side of HIV prevalence and their CSWs still higher , so you were certainly at some risk.
You had oraquick tests done @ 85 days and 101 days and both have come negative which is a good news for you.
Test done @101 days exceeds the XXXXXXX window period of HIV and this has come negative . So most likely you are HIV negative.
But just to be sure there is a word caution. Though Oral fluid HIV tests are fairly accurate, in studies, the OraQuick oral fluid test has detected 91.7 percent of people who were infected with HIV (sensitivity) , and 99.9 percent of people who were not infected with HIV(specificity). This means that it will miss 8.3 % of positive cases and report them as negative.
So just to be doubly sure of your negative status ,you will require to get tested with blood too.
unprotected oral sex puts you at risk for numerous sexually transmitted diseases like oral hepes/genital herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and hepatitis A , possibly hepatitis B too.
I guess you need to have your blood done for a STD profile too.
I empathize with your situation and there always will be some personal problems and one has to find its way.
Hope this helps
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your response.
HIV is transmitted through infected blood, sex with infected persons, infected needles and to babies through infected mother. Now there comes the risk of acquiring HIV . As far as getting through sex ,anal sex (receptive) is considered riskiest while oral sex (insertive) carry the lowest risk , now as already stated low risk is not a zero risk.
Again the prevalence of the place where you are exposed matters too and sub saharan countries are on the higher side of HIV prevalence and their CSWs still higher , so you were certainly at some risk.
You had oraquick tests done @ 85 days and 101 days and both have come negative which is a good news for you.
Test done @101 days exceeds the XXXXXXX window period of HIV and this has come negative . So most likely you are HIV negative.
But just to be sure there is a word caution. Though Oral fluid HIV tests are fairly accurate, in studies, the OraQuick oral fluid test has detected 91.7 percent of people who were infected with HIV (sensitivity) , and 99.9 percent of people who were not infected with HIV(specificity). This means that it will miss 8.3 % of positive cases and report them as negative.
So just to be doubly sure of your negative status ,you will require to get tested with blood too.
unprotected oral sex puts you at risk for numerous sexually transmitted diseases like oral hepes/genital herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and hepatitis A , possibly hepatitis B too.
I guess you need to have your blood done for a STD profile too.
I empathize with your situation and there always will be some personal problems and one has to find its way.
Hope this helps
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you so much Dr, Matin. That really helps a lot. I will get the blood test and also test for all other STDs. I appreciate your help.
Brief Answer:
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your kind words.
Always use a condom.
Be safe and be healthy.
Regards
Thanks
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your kind words.
Always use a condom.
Be safe and be healthy.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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