What Causes Sore Throat After Unprotected Sex?

Posted on Mon, 1 May 2017

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

Mon, 1 May 2017 Answered on

Tue, 23 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hai i did a unprotected sex with neighborhood girl.10 days after i got a sore throat and dry cough it will lost in 3 days, and i tested Elisa at 23 days after it comes negative. My sexual partner HIV status is negative by a tri-dot test,and then i did a western blot test after 80 days from exposure the result come back non-detective.can i take my WB result is conclusive.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your sore throat was unlikely to be due to HIV

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Sore throat is a very common problem that anybody can have. Especially after a sexual intimacy, one can acquire throat infection or cold through an air born infection, not necessarily the through sexual contact.
Western blot test for HIV is reliable by 80 days after the high risk activity. Earlier ELISA can not be considered as conclusive.
Dr S Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (47 minutes later)

sir can i take western blot result as conclusive

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are almost free from HIV infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Western blot test is an antibody detecting test in case of HIV. Body will take 6-8 weeks to develop antibodies against HIV in the presence of an infection. This is called as window period and this window period in HIV disease may be delayed up to 12 weeks in certain individuals.
So your western blot test 80 days after the exposure is almost reliable and can not be interpreted as conclusive.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad