What Causes Fever,sore Throat,muscle,joint Pains And Night Sweats?

Posted on Sat, 15 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 15 Mar 2014 Answered on

Tue, 1 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I had unprotected vaginal sex with my partner. He penetrated me a few times (like 5 or 6 strokes), but I made him put a condom on until he climaxed. Exactly 5 weeks and 1 day later, I developed a number of symptoms: Day 1- drainage in the back of my throat. Day 2- sore throat, minor chills, minor aches, feeling tired, and mild fever. Day 3- same symptoms as Day 2 but with cough, occasional sneezing, and night sweat. Day 4- fever, chills, aches, night sweats went away, but cough, congestion, and occasional sneezing remained. Day 5- Chills came back, had a night sweat, no fever,sneezing, congestion, and lingering cough. Cough continued for an additional week and a half (sometimes dry and sometimes wet). I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics. He looked down my nostrils and told me that I suffered from allergies. I did not have enlarged/swollen lymph nodes or glands, no rash. No other symptoms. Does this sound like ARS? I just took an HIV test but my results have not come back yet. Thanks in advance for your response.

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: This may be a acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to Healthcare Magic, As you have indulged in unprotected vaginal sex with your partner, if he is having HIV infection, HIV virus will be present in the seminal secretions and can be transmitted to you during the act of unprotected sex. The symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) can occur upto 6 weeks following possible exposure.The most common symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) are fever, sore throat,muscle and joint pains and night sweats. The respiratory symptoms like runny nose, sinus infection, coughing, congestion and sneezing are not generally considered symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). As you are having symptoms like sore throat, minor chills, minor aches, feeling tired, and mild fever, this may be a symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). But all of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions like seasonal flu,allergic reaction, bacterial infections and stress. HIV cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms, it should be done only by testing. As you are experiencing these symptoms after a high risk behaviour, these symptoms may be due to acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). As you have tested for HIV infections and the results are awaited, this will help us to know your HIV status. I hope your query is answered, if you have any further questions I will be happy to answer them. Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E