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Suggest Treatment For Presence Of Abscess On Throat

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Posted on Mon, 5 Oct 2015
Question: I've been feeling generally unwell for a while now, and i feel really anxious since I don't know what is going on.

First of all, I've been experiencing some irregular bowel movements for over two months now. Lately it does seem to be back to normal but I can still hear the stomach gurgling from time to time.

Also, my throat has really been bugging me. It sort of resembles pharyngitis as I can see there are something around my tonsils, they look like abscess. I feel nauseated and have to cough a couple of times a day especially when I think about it and start licking the back of my throat where the abscess are. I did notice that there are small white hairy things on my tongue. They do not cover as much as the pictures of oral thrush I've seen online, they are more like small sprouts sort of things. There were swollen glands all over my body (neck, lower back, thigh, cheek) a couple of weeks ago when I averaged 6 hours of sleep and drove my car for more than ten hours daily for a week but now most of them seemed to be gone.

There are some minor irregularities as well. For example I saw three white patches on my forearm, I've seen those on me before as a result of extended sun exposure. I also notice that my hands seems to be shaky especially when I am tired, it's barely noticeable during other times if I don't pay attention to them. One other thing is that sometimes I see my muscle would start twitching involuntarily, usually I notice them when the surrounding is quite and it could be around ten times a day.

I suspected HIV since I've been to parties and might have engaged in high risk activities almost a year ago. So I bought two sets of oralquick test, I took the first one a month back and it showed a negative result. Just to make sure, I took another one a couple of days ago and it was still negative. I know it says on the box the test has a sensitivity of 92%, will two tests performed a month apart be more conclusive than only one? (I followed the procedure perfectly both time as far as I see it, and there was no sign of any line near the letter T, no faint line no nothing)

If we can say the results are pretty conclusive, what should I do with my throat situation? Is any of the symptoms I described something I should be alerted about or should I just follow my regular schedule, try to live healthy and they will be gone? I did have some bad habits that might have caused it but now I am working on all of them. (I used to drink a glass of hard liquor almost everyday, and often go to sleep after midnight. Also I consumed a lot of caffeine daily, almost 150 milligrams every day for months)

doctor
Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please upload required images

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

I understand your concern.

I can guide you better if can please upload the images of the whitish spots inside the oral cavity as well as the patches on the forearm.

Based on which I can formulate an accurate hypothesis and offer you scientific explanation and therapeutic guidance.

Also, I would like to comment on the HIV testing sensitivity only after watching the images.

Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (1 hour later)
I just uploaded a report, I am not sure if that's the way to do it so please let me know what do you think if you can see the picture. The white patches are barely visible but you should be able to find it.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
A comprehensive 10-test STD panel is recommended.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

I apologise for the delayed response.

I have gone through your uploaded images.

Many of your symptoms(lymph nodal swellings) and oral manifestations represent an underlying infection.This could have arisen due to past sexual encounter.These symptoms represent polymicrobial infection and warrant further investigations.

A negative result with this test(The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test) does not mean that you are definitely not infected with HIV, particularly when exposure may have been within the previous 3 months.

If your test is negative and you engage in activities that put you at risk for HIV on a regular basis, you should test regularly.The OraQuick oral fluid test detected 91.7 percent of people who were infected with HIV.Hence, a second confirmatory test is needed as it, not 100%sensitive.

The test is not quantitative in nature. So, the intensity of the lines on the test stick does not correlate with the stage of the disease or infection potential.

For accurate results, I advise you to go for RT-PCR for HIV 1,2.This test is extremely sensitive and directly detects viral nucleic acids to deliver conclusive results as early 9 to 11 days after exposure

Also, you need to screen for other STD's.For this, you need to take complete 10 test panel STD screening.This also includes HIV 1,2 RT-PCR.You can find more info and order from home go through -https://www.stdcheck.com/std-test-panel.php

This complete screen is important in view of your bowel and oral symptoms, along with persistent lymph node swellings at mentioned sites.

Pertaining to muscle twitches, hand tremors sleep and concentration disturbances, they could be related to excessive alcohol and caffeine intake.I advise you to reduce their intake and symptoms would gradually improve on their own.

Pertaining to the treatment of these oral lesions, I generally recommend oral tablets of Fluconazole and Azithromycin and IV injection of Ceftriaxone-single dose to my patients.Please check with your physician if he shares my view and if can prescribe them to you.

Further management, if any is based on the test results.

Pertaining to forearm white patches, they could possibly relate to excessive sun exposure.A good sunscreen agent will protect you.Wait for their spontaneous resolution.

Hope I have answered all your queries,

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (5 hours later)
Thanks for the clarification, as for the part you talked about HIV test, I do have some additional questions.

I know you said the result is not guranteed, especially if the exposure was within 3 months. Would you say they are more conclusive if the exposure happened 9 months ago? Also, will a second test improve the accuracy? Both were taken months after the 3 months period.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Prasanna Heijebu (27 hours later)
Brief Answer:
These tests are reliable if the exposure is 9 months ago.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.

I apologise for the delayed response.

These results will certainly be more reliable if the exposure is 9 months ago.This time is very much enough for the antibodies against HIV to form and get detected on Oral HIV test.In all such cases exceeding 6 month period, a single test even is almost 100% reliable.

Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.

Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Prasanna Heijebu

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1422 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Presence Of Abscess On Throat

Brief Answer: Please upload required images Detailed Answer: Hello, Sir. I understand your concern. I can guide you better if can please upload the images of the whitish spots inside the oral cavity as well as the patches on the forearm. Based on which I can formulate an accurate hypothesis and offer you scientific explanation and therapeutic guidance. Also, I would like to comment on the HIV testing sensitivity only after watching the images. Thank you.