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What Are The Symptoms Of HIV?

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Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015
Question: Are these rashes due to hiv infection?

I have all sero conversion symptoms.

Weight loss
Diarreah
Injury taking time to heal
Back pain
Couple of rashes which I can't identify
Fatigued

I had last unprotected exposure on 1st week of feb and since then 2 result came negative hiv rna on 3/23. However I continue to have ars symptoms.

Howeve
How to self check lymph nodes? What will I be looking for?
Are these pictures of tounge suggestive of some abnormalities???
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (48 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See detailed answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.

You have symptoms like diarrhoea, rashes, etc. You have got viral PCR done at 7 weeks which was negative.

Firstly I suggest you must relax dont jump to conclusions as you need evaluation to be done properly by physician as he only an assess the lymph nodes which are found at certain places through out the body if enlarged due to infection or other conditions. In your case it could be any viral infection, gastroenteritis infection, lymes disease, drug overdose, etc. It is not necessarily HIV infection. Do you have itching? Weight loss? Fever? Drugs? Corticosteroids?

You can get blood culture sensitivity test done, complete haemogram, urine microscopy examination, Blood sugar, Liver and kidney function test done.

The symptom on your tongue looks like oral thrush caused by fungus Candida. Doctor may prescribe an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole) for short-term use. Get your stool test done for routine microscopy.

Now coming to your PCR TEST though test can detect HIV at 7 weeks it is not absolute. I suggest you can get the PCR TEST and 4 th generation ELISA done at 12 weeks again. You also may require a follow-up test for HIV at 3-6 months. Eat protein rich balanced diet with multivitamins and calcium supplements daily. Drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits. Do not smoke or consume alcohol. Monitor your temperature and weight.

Take care.
I hope I answered your query.
You can take a follow-up query.
If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer.

Dr. Sheetal Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (56 minutes later)
Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

I have weight loss, on 7th of march it was 156 pounds and today i am at 149 pounds.

There is no fever, my primary care physician had said no swollen lymph nodes.

These rashes are not itchy, though i get occassional tingle all over my body.

I took another blood test on 4/6 they took blood now that place has a reddish hue and is not going at all. Awaiting results doing a hiv rna and antigen with western blot confirmation test. it will be out on 4/12.

to give a background -

I took a complete std test on 2/27and then on 3/23. My last risky encounter ( unprotected sex) during 1st week of feb and another protected sex on 3/4. My partner reported that she was positive for herpes on 2/26. Hence I took the on 2/27 all results were negative. Since I was unaware of the window period I had a protected encounter with girl on 3/4. I was freaking out as by body tingled but not in groin and on 3/22 I saw a blister on my innerthigh. I took the lab work and included hiv rna test got the result still all negative on 3/25.

However since i was overwhelmed with emotions I took 10 200mg of ibuprofen and tried to sleep. But I had sever stomach pain and payed a visit to ER there my blood work tells me low lymphocyte count and high neutrophils. Is it a possibility that hiv rna test was so soon??? Or low lymphocyte and high neutrophils was side effect of ibuprofen?? To add in ER I HAD A CAT SCAN and everything see normal.

My primary care physician did a blood test and everything is normal however my blood sugar is little high 101 and i have little colestrol and hig trygliceride.

My concern is that i am not able to hold my weight constant it keeps going down if i say skip a meal.Which was never before.

Through out i have monitored my temperature it has not been above 99.5 but on certain days it has dipped to 96.6 (though i live in New JErsey).
I am experiencing some night sweat but its not like entire t-shirt is soked but little sweat at the back of my neck.

The stool morning it is normal however during days its little and soft, at times gooey.

I dont drink but i do smoke a lot.

can you give me some examples of protein and calcium rich diet?

and also want to know since my last risky exposure in 1st week of feb after 7 weeks hiv rna pcr qualatative is not conclusive? in between i also had a protected encounter is there a risk from that too?
I never had any weight loss problems but all of a sudden is strange and my doctor tells me I am suffering from anxiety. The lab guys told me pcr test is very conclusive at 7 weeks from the risky behavior. But I am probably anxious as I had a protected encounter after the pcr and I am thinking if that might have caused this?
Hiv rna test was qualitative and not quantative.
This is what the lab guys told me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
See detailed answer

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Well come back.

I realize that you are really getting too anxious about your body and fear of HIV. I suggest you to firstly remove the constant fear of HIV. It is correct that HIV PCR is qualitative test with high sensitivity nearly 98% at 7 weeks. But it is good you have got other confirmatory tests done. I suggest wait for results. The high neutrophils and low lymphocytes is commonly seen with acute infections and not side effect of ibuprofen. After your initial exposure you got tested and your second exposure was protected so in that case no risk of HIV. If you are suffering from severe anxiety you need to get counselling done along with anxiolytic agents like alprazolam.The window period for the PCR DNA test is 3-4 weeks of exposure. So this test can be taken between 3-4 weeks after your sexual encounter. A confirmatory test may be taken only if your PCR DNA test result is positive. If it comes back negative, you may re-test at the 3 month mark for conclusive results. International guidelines state that an HIV test is considered definite and conclusive when taken 3 months after an exposure. High protein foods include meat, fish, cheese, tofu, beans, lentils, yogurt, nuts, and seeds. Besides milk and yogurt but dairy products like cheese is also a good dose of calcium. Leafy greens: Many vegetables, especially the leafy green veggies, are rich sources of calcium.Other causes of weight loss include, but are not limited to, cancer, viral infection (such as CMV or HIV), gastroenteritis, parasite infection, depression, bowel diseases, and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). You need proper evaluation.Don't worry and avoid smoking. Wait for laboratory results and take adequate rest.

Best of health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (11 minutes later)
what are the characteristics of an eczema rash
how does it look like
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See detailed answer.

Detailed Answer:
Eczema is usually known as"the itch that rashes" because the itching usually occurs first. In adults it may cause scaly, leathery patches or a stubborn hand eczema. Atopic dermatitis is a common, often inherited form, but there are other types, as well as many treatment options. In your case the clarity of image is not good. I suggest you may consult with a dermatologist also.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (30 minutes later)
I have uploaded 2 images for your reference. Kindly suggest if anything found untoward.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
hyperpigmented macular area

Detailed Answer:
It looks like hyperpigmented macular area which could be due to various factors including fungal infections. Kindly get skin scrapping done for fungal elements under the guidance of dermatologist.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (11 minutes later)
Is it a symptom from hiv infection??
All of s sudden my left side is painin can it be for hiv
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Dont worry, no, it not necessarily HIV.

Detailed Answer:

I suggest you that you need to counsel yourself strongly. Do not correlate every symptom with HIV. Most of viral infections have overlapping symptoms. So I request you to be patient and relax. Wait for laboratory results. Practice meditation.

Best of health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (10 hours later)
Are hiv rashes itchy?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
See answer.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Rashes are usually not due to HIV. They are usually due to secondary infection caused by viruses, bacteria or fungal infections. Therefore no question arises as to whether HIV rashes are itchy or not.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (6 hours later)
Are these blotches macupopular rashes?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
yes, they appear so

Detailed Answer:
Yes they appear to be macular rashes. A macular rash is a skin rash which presents in the form of a number of small, flat red spots. It can appear anywhere on the body, and it may be caused by a variety of things, from allergic reactions to certain medications. But I suggest you to get properly examined by a dermatologist.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sheetal Verma (3 days later)
Hi doctor

My results for rna Naat pcr came out negative. This is 9 weeks post risky exposure and 10 days after a protected encounter.

However my blood work had the following variation

Urea nitrogen is 5
Ast is 56
Glucose is 110
Abs neutrophils is 12236
Wbc 14

Any causes of concerns
Also, there is another worry

My partner was test for herpes and after 6 weeks I tested negative for herpes.

How conclusive are those results

doctor
Answered by Dr. Sheetal Verma (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Everything is normal.:):)

Detailed Answer:
Well you must take a XXXXXXX of relief for yourself and for your partner. All the laboratory parameters are normal and no need of any concern. The tests are highly reliable for both HIV and herpes.
Take care.
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sheetal Verma

Infectious Diseases Specialist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 635 Questions

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What Are The Symptoms Of HIV?

Brief Answer: See detailed answer. Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query at HCM. I understand your concern and situation. You have symptoms like diarrhoea, rashes, etc. You have got viral PCR done at 7 weeks which was negative. Firstly I suggest you must relax dont jump to conclusions as you need evaluation to be done properly by physician as he only an assess the lymph nodes which are found at certain places through out the body if enlarged due to infection or other conditions. In your case it could be any viral infection, gastroenteritis infection, lymes disease, drug overdose, etc. It is not necessarily HIV infection. Do you have itching? Weight loss? Fever? Drugs? Corticosteroids? You can get blood culture sensitivity test done, complete haemogram, urine microscopy examination, Blood sugar, Liver and kidney function test done. The symptom on your tongue looks like oral thrush caused by fungus Candida. Doctor may prescribe an antifungal mouthwash (nystatin) or lozenges (clotrimazole) for short-term use. Get your stool test done for routine microscopy. Now coming to your PCR TEST though test can detect HIV at 7 weeks it is not absolute. I suggest you can get the PCR TEST and 4 th generation ELISA done at 12 weeks again. You also may require a follow-up test for HIV at 3-6 months. Eat protein rich balanced diet with multivitamins and calcium supplements daily. Drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits. Do not smoke or consume alcohol. Monitor your temperature and weight. Take care. I hope I answered your query. You can take a follow-up query. If no clarifications then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Dr. Sheetal Verma