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What Are The Symptoms Of HIV?
Question: I am based in middle east and hence cannot consult any doctor or counselor here related to HIV and STD. I request you to kindly give me feedback on the below questions;
1. I had a sexual encounter with CSW, it was protected oral sex (i was receptive) and vaginal sex(hardly any penetration/no penetration). After around 3/4 weeks of exposure I had severe pain in my lower and upper back and tingling/numbness in the legs, upon investigation it was known that there was disk degradation in L4 & L5. After medication the pain is almost relieved. I read on the internet that muscle/back pain is one of the early symptom of HIV infection. Can this pain be associated with HIV in any way. At 6th week(41 days) after the exposure I did the HIV combo test in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and the result was negative. I am being told by friends that the 4th generation test is conclusive at 6th week though no doctor will confirm that as the universal guideline is 3 months. I will be anyway doing the test at 3 months, but for the sake of my peace of mind can I consider that test as a good indicator. As per many websites and forums, on an average 28 days the antibodies are detectable with the latest test, how true is this. Also based on my description what is the risk of getting infected with HIV or STD.
2. I had a sore throat with red and white patches in the throat for last 2 days without any fever or running nose, will this be because of HIV or STDs. The doctor did a throat culture test (Swab Test) and asked me to wait for 3 days. Is it possible for the doctor to detect any STD from the result as any such disease like HIV or STD is not allowed in foreign workers living here.
3. For detecting all STD infection which all test should be done that are available in XXXXXXX
1. I had a sexual encounter with CSW, it was protected oral sex (i was receptive) and vaginal sex(hardly any penetration/no penetration). After around 3/4 weeks of exposure I had severe pain in my lower and upper back and tingling/numbness in the legs, upon investigation it was known that there was disk degradation in L4 & L5. After medication the pain is almost relieved. I read on the internet that muscle/back pain is one of the early symptom of HIV infection. Can this pain be associated with HIV in any way. At 6th week(41 days) after the exposure I did the HIV combo test in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX and the result was negative. I am being told by friends that the 4th generation test is conclusive at 6th week though no doctor will confirm that as the universal guideline is 3 months. I will be anyway doing the test at 3 months, but for the sake of my peace of mind can I consider that test as a good indicator. As per many websites and forums, on an average 28 days the antibodies are detectable with the latest test, how true is this. Also based on my description what is the risk of getting infected with HIV or STD.
2. I had a sore throat with red and white patches in the throat for last 2 days without any fever or running nose, will this be because of HIV or STDs. The doctor did a throat culture test (Swab Test) and asked me to wait for 3 days. Is it possible for the doctor to detect any STD from the result as any such disease like HIV or STD is not allowed in foreign workers living here.
3. For detecting all STD infection which all test should be done that are available in XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
HIV P24 ANTIGEN, HIV RNA PCR
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.
I can very well understand your state of mind and anxiety. I will try to help you out. You mentioned you performed HIV combo test at 6th week. Would you mind sharing the reports with me. I need to see the details (type) of the test performed to comment further. If possible please upload the scanned using the site's uploader.
Another option is to do a HIV RNA PCR, which detects HIV RNA in the blood. this is a fool-proof test to rule out HIV early in the disease. This test costs around 6000 for both HIV 1 AND 2 together.
Sore throat by itself is not diagnostic of HIV. Many viruses including HIV can cause sore throat. a swab will detect streptococci and infectious mononucleosis.
I would recommend you to have HBSAG, HCV, VDRL to rule out other STD infections.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
HIV P24 ANTIGEN, HIV RNA PCR
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Greetings from health care magic!!! I am Dr Thakker and shall be answering your question.
I can very well understand your state of mind and anxiety. I will try to help you out. You mentioned you performed HIV combo test at 6th week. Would you mind sharing the reports with me. I need to see the details (type) of the test performed to comment further. If possible please upload the scanned using the site's uploader.
Another option is to do a HIV RNA PCR, which detects HIV RNA in the blood. this is a fool-proof test to rule out HIV early in the disease. This test costs around 6000 for both HIV 1 AND 2 together.
Sore throat by itself is not diagnostic of HIV. Many viruses including HIV can cause sore throat. a swab will detect streptococci and infectious mononucleosis.
I would recommend you to have HBSAG, HCV, VDRL to rule out other STD infections.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I have attached the report for your reference. However do I still have to re-test the HIV or my 6 weeks report can be considered as final and conclusive. You didn't answer on the level of risk based on the exposure described. I understand that for the infection to be transferred from a infected woman penetration is needed and it has to be for quite a good time, in my case there was hardly any penetration. Kindly advice
Brief Answer:
Please read the detailed reply.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Thank you for providing me the scanned report.
The HIV combo test has 2 parts: p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV 1 and 2.
p24 antigen appears in blood by ten to 14 days of infection. The first 10 to 14 days constitute the widow period. In your case, this is negative after 6 weeks which means there is no virus infection at present. However p24 is not the gold standard test.
Antibodies to HIV 1 and 2 appear by 3 to 6 months. Hence this test maybe false negative in the window period.
For peace of mind, I would recommend you to have the HIV 1 PROVIRAL DNA and HIV 2 Real time PCR. This is the gold standard and if negative, your can be assured of not having the disease. This test costs around Rs 6200.
Regarding the level of risk involved, it is very low because there was no penetration. You indulged in safe oral sex which has a negligible risk of transmission.However, it is best to have evidence and peace of mind in these matters.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
Please read the detailed reply.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Thank you for providing me the scanned report.
The HIV combo test has 2 parts: p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV 1 and 2.
p24 antigen appears in blood by ten to 14 days of infection. The first 10 to 14 days constitute the widow period. In your case, this is negative after 6 weeks which means there is no virus infection at present. However p24 is not the gold standard test.
Antibodies to HIV 1 and 2 appear by 3 to 6 months. Hence this test maybe false negative in the window period.
For peace of mind, I would recommend you to have the HIV 1 PROVIRAL DNA and HIV 2 Real time PCR. This is the gold standard and if negative, your can be assured of not having the disease. This test costs around Rs 6200.
Regarding the level of risk involved, it is very low because there was no penetration. You indulged in safe oral sex which has a negligible risk of transmission.However, it is best to have evidence and peace of mind in these matters.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for the feedback. Kindly comment on the query related to the sore throat infection .
Brief Answer:
Please read the reply
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Please refer to my first reply to your question. I have already addressed this issue in there.
To reiterate, sore throat can be caused by many viruses, bacteria. There is no way to differentiate a sore throat caused by HIV from other causes clinically. The swab test detects only 2 organisms, streptococci and infectious mononucleosis. I would suggest not to dissect the sore throat more because it is not going to lead us to a diagnosis. Only the PCR tests are foolproof to diagnose HIV.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
Please read the reply
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Please refer to my first reply to your question. I have already addressed this issue in there.
To reiterate, sore throat can be caused by many viruses, bacteria. There is no way to differentiate a sore throat caused by HIV from other causes clinically. The swab test detects only 2 organisms, streptococci and infectious mononucleosis. I would suggest not to dissect the sore throat more because it is not going to lead us to a diagnosis. Only the PCR tests are foolproof to diagnose HIV.
I hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to write back to me.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Thakker
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks Doctor...this has helped me a lot. I may be repeating but I need your feedback on the HIV test done at 6 weeks. With such a latest test do I still need to re-test at 3 months or i consider this confirmatory. Antibodies are developed on an average in 28 days, what type of persons take longer to develop the antibodies?
I referred to many websites which say the countries like UK are going to change the window period from present 12 weeks to 6 weeks for the 4th generation test. Your thoughts on the same....
I referred to many websites which say the countries like UK are going to change the window period from present 12 weeks to 6 weeks for the 4th generation test. Your thoughts on the same....
Brief Answer:
Please read the response
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Your combo test being negative at 6 weeks is a good sign. However this is not confirmatory that you are free from the disease. You can perform the HIV 1 proviral DNA PCR and HIV 2 Real time RNA PCR right away to be 100% sure. You do not have to wait for another 6 weeks but perform the test just right away. Even if the window period is shortened, the antibody tests are not as 100% accurate as these sensitive PCR tests.
I hope this helps.
Dr Thakker.
Please read the response
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX
Your combo test being negative at 6 weeks is a good sign. However this is not confirmatory that you are free from the disease. You can perform the HIV 1 proviral DNA PCR and HIV 2 Real time RNA PCR right away to be 100% sure. You do not have to wait for another 6 weeks but perform the test just right away. Even if the window period is shortened, the antibody tests are not as 100% accurate as these sensitive PCR tests.
I hope this helps.
Dr Thakker.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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