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Is This Possibly ARS I Have A Question Regarding My HIV Risk?
Question: Hello, I have a question regarding my HIV risk. I was on PrEP daily for 6 days. On the 7th day I had a condomless insertive anal sex encounter. 3 days later, I had a condomless receptive anal encounter with no ejaculation. 20 days after the first encounter (or 17 days after the second one) I experienced swollen lymph nodes in the neck and groin, nausea, loose/watery stools, night sweats, low grade fever, chills, all for three days. After three days, most symptoms subsided except for the lymph nodes. 2 days later, diarrhea returned for 2 more days then went away. Is this possibly ARS?
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not necessarily due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You had mentioned that you were on PrEP for 6 days and you had unprotected sex on 7th day and another after 3days. But not mentioned whether you are continuing PrEP still or not. PrEP has to be continued as long as the individual is sexually active and not for a specific period. Moreover PrEP is 100% safe only when it is used along with condom usage. In the absence of condom, the efficacy of PrEP protection cannot be taken as 100% safe.
Regarding your symptoms, the abbreviation, ARS is not used nowadays. Earliest manifestation of HIV infection (Acute infection or Primary HIV infection or Seroconversion illness) can appear not earlier than 4 weeks after the exposure usually.
Now this is a season of Fever... So your symptoms could be due to any other reason, including Covid 19. Only investigations can either confirm or rule out any condition. So consult you physician and have appropriate investigations and get well, instead of guessing the probablities.
Dr S.Murugan
Your symptoms are not necessarily due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You had mentioned that you were on PrEP for 6 days and you had unprotected sex on 7th day and another after 3days. But not mentioned whether you are continuing PrEP still or not. PrEP has to be continued as long as the individual is sexually active and not for a specific period. Moreover PrEP is 100% safe only when it is used along with condom usage. In the absence of condom, the efficacy of PrEP protection cannot be taken as 100% safe.
Regarding your symptoms, the abbreviation, ARS is not used nowadays. Earliest manifestation of HIV infection (Acute infection or Primary HIV infection or Seroconversion illness) can appear not earlier than 4 weeks after the exposure usually.
Now this is a season of Fever... So your symptoms could be due to any other reason, including Covid 19. Only investigations can either confirm or rule out any condition. So consult you physician and have appropriate investigations and get well, instead of guessing the probablities.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you doctor. I was continuing PrEP. And I was on PrEP during these encounters. And I am still on PrEP
I understand now that a condom is a non-negotiable.
I had a covid test during my symptoms and it was negative.
Do you think that HIV is likely in my case or can you tell? If I was your patient, would you be concerned of a possible transmission?
Also, thank you for correcting my usage!
I understand now that a condom is a non-negotiable.
I had a covid test during my symptoms and it was negative.
Do you think that HIV is likely in my case or can you tell? If I was your patient, would you be concerned of a possible transmission?
Also, thank you for correcting my usage!
Also, can PrEP affect the way seroconversion illness would present if I actually did contract the virus?
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Despite Covid Negative, there are many other infections, other than HIV and Covid infections, can produce such symptoms. As you are continuing PrEP continuously your HIV risk is negligible only. Not to worry. If I come across such a patient in my clinic, of course, I would prefer to rule out HIV in this case with appropriate tests for HIV.
You had not mentioned that how many days back you had your first and next risky exposures.
4th generation test is a highly reliable test. 3-4 weeks after the last exposure and the nonreactive report of 4th generation HIV test can rule out HIV 1 infection (which is prevalent up to 99%) and the nonreactive test 12 weeks after the exposure will rule out both HIV 1 and 2 infections (Both antigen and antibody part of the combo test) in a normal situation.
As you are on PrEP, the possibility of delay in this duration of seroconversion can not be overlooked. At the same time in the presence of PrEP, the chances of getting HIV infection is negligible. Consult your physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Despite Covid Negative, there are many other infections, other than HIV and Covid infections, can produce such symptoms. As you are continuing PrEP continuously your HIV risk is negligible only. Not to worry. If I come across such a patient in my clinic, of course, I would prefer to rule out HIV in this case with appropriate tests for HIV.
You had not mentioned that how many days back you had your first and next risky exposures.
4th generation test is a highly reliable test. 3-4 weeks after the last exposure and the nonreactive report of 4th generation HIV test can rule out HIV 1 infection (which is prevalent up to 99%) and the nonreactive test 12 weeks after the exposure will rule out both HIV 1 and 2 infections (Both antigen and antibody part of the combo test) in a normal situation.
As you are on PrEP, the possibility of delay in this duration of seroconversion can not be overlooked. At the same time in the presence of PrEP, the chances of getting HIV infection is negligible. Consult your physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Despite Covid Negative, there are many other infections, other than HIV and Covid infections, can produce such symptoms. As you are continuing PrEP continuously your HIV risk is negligible only. Not to worry. If I come across such a patient in my clinic, of course, I would prefer to rule out HIV in this case with appropriate tests for HIV.
You had not mentioned that how many days back you had your first and next risky exposures.
4th generation test is a highly reliable test. 3-4 weeks after the last exposure and the nonreactive report of 4th generation HIV test can rule out HIV 1 infection (which is prevalent up to 99%) and the nonreactive test 12 weeks after the exposure will rule out both HIV 1 and 2 infections (Both antigen and antibody part of the combo test) in a normal situation.
As you are on PrEP, the possibility of delay in this duration of seroconversion can not be overlooked. At the same time in the presence of PrEP, the chances of getting HIV infection is negligible. Consult your physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
Your symptoms are unlikely to be due to HIV infection.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Despite Covid Negative, there are many other infections, other than HIV and Covid infections, can produce such symptoms. As you are continuing PrEP continuously your HIV risk is negligible only. Not to worry. If I come across such a patient in my clinic, of course, I would prefer to rule out HIV in this case with appropriate tests for HIV.
You had not mentioned that how many days back you had your first and next risky exposures.
4th generation test is a highly reliable test. 3-4 weeks after the last exposure and the nonreactive report of 4th generation HIV test can rule out HIV 1 infection (which is prevalent up to 99%) and the nonreactive test 12 weeks after the exposure will rule out both HIV 1 and 2 infections (Both antigen and antibody part of the combo test) in a normal situation.
As you are on PrEP, the possibility of delay in this duration of seroconversion can not be overlooked. At the same time in the presence of PrEP, the chances of getting HIV infection is negligible. Consult your physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Do you think that p24 antigen would have been detectable by this time? This is my final question, thank you so much for the in-depth responses
Brief Answer:
You can repeat the 4th generation test now and another after 6 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Your last exposure is 4th December. Nearly 44 days are over by this time from your last exposure. 4th generation HIV test are reliable up to 99% or more. That too it will be more conclusive and reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. (The test done on 18th day cannot be taken as conclusive). The nonreactive 4th generation HIV test after 6 weeks, will rule out the (Antigen part of test) HIV 1 unfection. Antibodies start appearing around 4-6 weeks after the exposre (after the window period). But it may get delayed in some individual up to 12 weeks. In your case as you are on PrEP, it may take even later, Upto 6 months. At the same time PrEP protects you from getting the infection. The prevalence of HIV 2 throughout the world except in certain parts of XXXXXXX is less than 1 %.
So not to worry. Your symptoms would unlikely be due to HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
You can repeat the 4th generation test now and another after 6 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Your last exposure is 4th December. Nearly 44 days are over by this time from your last exposure. 4th generation HIV test are reliable up to 99% or more. That too it will be more conclusive and reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. (The test done on 18th day cannot be taken as conclusive). The nonreactive 4th generation HIV test after 6 weeks, will rule out the (Antigen part of test) HIV 1 unfection. Antibodies start appearing around 4-6 weeks after the exposre (after the window period). But it may get delayed in some individual up to 12 weeks. In your case as you are on PrEP, it may take even later, Upto 6 months. At the same time PrEP protects you from getting the infection. The prevalence of HIV 2 throughout the world except in certain parts of XXXXXXX is less than 1 %.
So not to worry. Your symptoms would unlikely be due to HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
You can repeat the 4th generation test now and another after 6 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Your last exposure is 4th December. Nearly 44 days are over by this time from your last exposure. 4th generation HIV test are reliable up to 99% or more. That too it will be more conclusive and reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. (The test done on 18th day cannot be taken as conclusive). The nonreactive 4th generation HIV test after 6 weeks, will rule out the (Antigen part of test) HIV 1 unfection. Antibodies start appearing around 4-6 weeks after the exposre (after the window period). But it may get delayed in some individual up to 12 weeks. In your case as you are on PrEP, it may take even later, Upto 6 months. At the same time PrEP protects you from getting the infection. The prevalence of HIV 2 throughout the world except in certain parts of XXXXXXX is less than 1 %.
So not to worry. Your symptoms would unlikely be due to HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
You can repeat the 4th generation test now and another after 6 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Your last exposure is 4th December. Nearly 44 days are over by this time from your last exposure. 4th generation HIV test are reliable up to 99% or more. That too it will be more conclusive and reliable 3-4 weeks after the exposure. (The test done on 18th day cannot be taken as conclusive). The nonreactive 4th generation HIV test after 6 weeks, will rule out the (Antigen part of test) HIV 1 unfection. Antibodies start appearing around 4-6 weeks after the exposre (after the window period). But it may get delayed in some individual up to 12 weeks. In your case as you are on PrEP, it may take even later, Upto 6 months. At the same time PrEP protects you from getting the infection. The prevalence of HIV 2 throughout the world except in certain parts of XXXXXXX is less than 1 %.
So not to worry. Your symptoms would unlikely be due to HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I'm getting tested on Monday. If the test is negative, then can I be assured that I don't have HIV?
I'm getting tested on Monday. If the test is negative, then can I be assured that I don't have HIV?
Brief Answer:
The 4th generation HIV nonreactive report after 6 weeks ruled out HIV 1 inf
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If your 4t generation HIV test becomes nonreactive 6 weeks after the exposure, you are assured that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
Dr S.Murugan
The 4th generation HIV nonreactive report after 6 weeks ruled out HIV 1 inf
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If your 4t generation HIV test becomes nonreactive 6 weeks after the exposure, you are assured that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
The 4th generation HIV nonreactive report after 6 weeks ruled out HIV 1 inf
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If your 4t generation HIV test becomes nonreactive 6 weeks after the exposure, you are assured that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
Dr S.Murugan
The 4th generation HIV nonreactive report after 6 weeks ruled out HIV 1 inf
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If your 4t generation HIV test becomes nonreactive 6 weeks after the exposure, you are assured that you are free from HIV 1 infection.
Dr S.Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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