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What Are The Symptoms Of HIV ARS?
Question: Hi,
I just would like to know regarding HIV ARS Symtoms:
1. If in case Espongitis Candida occurs during ARS / Seroconversion time, would that go away on its own like other symptoms go away or considering its severity, one would need fungal treatment for that ?
2. I know HIV test is the Gold Standard. But, would a person's CBC / FBC / Blood work report show any abnormalities during "ARS / Seroconversion time" ?
3. Will only one ARS symptom last for more than 1 month, while other ARS Symptoms had gone in 10 days or so ? (If it was ARS at all!). In other words, will one ARS symptom would last for more than 20 days since the other symptoms had gone ?
My personal issue was:
I accidentally (Yes, really accidentally) "RECEIVED ORAL SEX" (Insertive oral sex) from a Russian Sex worker (Probably a high-class escort, but you never know their status!). No kisses or any other sexual activities were there. Just receiving oral sex (Her mouth to my genitals and it lasted for about 40 minutes!). I did not see any blood there. I saw only saliva, but honestly can not be sure at all. After 24 days of this incident, I felt something got stuck in my throat. Went to the Dr and he said it's GERD issue and gave me pills. The problem reduced the other day. However, I have never had a GERD problem in my life so far. I had no cough, cold, throat clearing etc etc.
Then I felt dizziness (I don't know whether it's due to the GERD pills he gave me). Then he prescribed Domperidon to control the dizziness. Further I saw my throat was severely red (a sore throat) and developed very low grade fever for about 2 days. Tongue was white in color which some people say tongue's reaction to the acid.
In 2-3 days dizziness gone. In 2 days the fever had gone. But, it took around 10 days for the "feeling something stuck in throat" feeling to go away slowly & slowly. Around 7-8 days for the tongue to come to normal color and feel tastes. Appetite also came back to normal after 10 days or so. BUT - STILL the 32nd day after these issues, still the red throat is there. I took an HIV Antibody Test (2 tests using the same blood) an Strip test and an ELISA test 33 DAYS AFTER the exposure and 7 DAYS AFTER the onset of these issues. Both tests came back negative. My FBC work showed normal.
Finally went to an ENT Dr and he inspected my throat by observation (no tests) and said it's called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) which is called as "Silent Reflux" as well. That's why I did not have any heart burning effect. The acid had come up and that's why throat is damaged / burnt. Although his explanations made sense to me due to the following reasons:
1. I had a lump feeling in my throat and it got reduced the other day for GERD pills. If it was due to ARS HIV Candida etc, it's unlikely it get controls for GERD pills.
2. If it was ARS, then sore throat can not stay this long, while other symptoms had gone.
But, I am still clueless because, if it was Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR), then why I had a low-grade fever for 2 days ?? Did dizziness really a side effect of GERD pills ?
Thus, I need an opinion of an HIV Specialist regarding my issue. Please be kind enough to provide your expert view on this.
Thank you for your patience and time.
I just would like to know regarding HIV ARS Symtoms:
1. If in case Espongitis Candida occurs during ARS / Seroconversion time, would that go away on its own like other symptoms go away or considering its severity, one would need fungal treatment for that ?
2. I know HIV test is the Gold Standard. But, would a person's CBC / FBC / Blood work report show any abnormalities during "ARS / Seroconversion time" ?
3. Will only one ARS symptom last for more than 1 month, while other ARS Symptoms had gone in 10 days or so ? (If it was ARS at all!). In other words, will one ARS symptom would last for more than 20 days since the other symptoms had gone ?
My personal issue was:
I accidentally (Yes, really accidentally) "RECEIVED ORAL SEX" (Insertive oral sex) from a Russian Sex worker (Probably a high-class escort, but you never know their status!). No kisses or any other sexual activities were there. Just receiving oral sex (Her mouth to my genitals and it lasted for about 40 minutes!). I did not see any blood there. I saw only saliva, but honestly can not be sure at all. After 24 days of this incident, I felt something got stuck in my throat. Went to the Dr and he said it's GERD issue and gave me pills. The problem reduced the other day. However, I have never had a GERD problem in my life so far. I had no cough, cold, throat clearing etc etc.
Then I felt dizziness (I don't know whether it's due to the GERD pills he gave me). Then he prescribed Domperidon to control the dizziness. Further I saw my throat was severely red (a sore throat) and developed very low grade fever for about 2 days. Tongue was white in color which some people say tongue's reaction to the acid.
In 2-3 days dizziness gone. In 2 days the fever had gone. But, it took around 10 days for the "feeling something stuck in throat" feeling to go away slowly & slowly. Around 7-8 days for the tongue to come to normal color and feel tastes. Appetite also came back to normal after 10 days or so. BUT - STILL the 32nd day after these issues, still the red throat is there. I took an HIV Antibody Test (2 tests using the same blood) an Strip test and an ELISA test 33 DAYS AFTER the exposure and 7 DAYS AFTER the onset of these issues. Both tests came back negative. My FBC work showed normal.
Finally went to an ENT Dr and he inspected my throat by observation (no tests) and said it's called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) which is called as "Silent Reflux" as well. That's why I did not have any heart burning effect. The acid had come up and that's why throat is damaged / burnt. Although his explanations made sense to me due to the following reasons:
1. I had a lump feeling in my throat and it got reduced the other day for GERD pills. If it was due to ARS HIV Candida etc, it's unlikely it get controls for GERD pills.
2. If it was ARS, then sore throat can not stay this long, while other symptoms had gone.
But, I am still clueless because, if it was Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR), then why I had a low-grade fever for 2 days ?? Did dizziness really a side effect of GERD pills ?
Thus, I need an opinion of an HIV Specialist regarding my issue. Please be kind enough to provide your expert view on this.
Thank you for your patience and time.
Brief Answer:
GERD likely and HIV negative
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for query.I am Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query.
Firstly i would like to tell you that you have become more anxious about HIV which is quite common.
The modes of transmission you mentioned is one of the least possible modes of transmission of HIV unless both of you have ulcers/abrasions in the concerned areas.and it is unlikely.so very remote possibility of acquiring HIV.
Your elisa tests are negative i think now they are 4th generation tests done which is highly sensitive.so you can allay fears.
If you still insist you can get it done after 6 months to totally allay fear of HIV from this incident than undergoing repeatedly every time .
Has anybody diagnosed candidal esophagitis in you? if not why are you unnecessarily thinking about it.it is found only in the late stage of HIV disease.
GERD and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux is possible and is diagnosed by both specilaists.
As you are tensed and anxious which increases chances.no intake of proper diet i suppose also can exacerbate.
also due to junk foods spicy and carbonated drinks.Please avoid all these.Have short frequent meals.try with antacid chewables or syrups.also take prescriptions given by your doctor.
Fever can be related or unrelated to it, as pharyngitis also causes fever.
many have giddiness or dizziness due tor GERD. the feeling of vertigo also.
so take proper treatment for it.
The blood changes will be nonspecific during ARS period.
RNA PCR for HIV will be best test during this ARS.
ARS usually lasts for 2-4 weeks very rarely longer than this.
I hope I have answered all your clarifications.
You can allay all fears of HIV and take treatment for GERD properly.
you can get back to me for any clarifications
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh
GERD likely and HIV negative
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for query.I am Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query.
Firstly i would like to tell you that you have become more anxious about HIV which is quite common.
The modes of transmission you mentioned is one of the least possible modes of transmission of HIV unless both of you have ulcers/abrasions in the concerned areas.and it is unlikely.so very remote possibility of acquiring HIV.
Your elisa tests are negative i think now they are 4th generation tests done which is highly sensitive.so you can allay fears.
If you still insist you can get it done after 6 months to totally allay fear of HIV from this incident than undergoing repeatedly every time .
Has anybody diagnosed candidal esophagitis in you? if not why are you unnecessarily thinking about it.it is found only in the late stage of HIV disease.
GERD and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux is possible and is diagnosed by both specilaists.
As you are tensed and anxious which increases chances.no intake of proper diet i suppose also can exacerbate.
also due to junk foods spicy and carbonated drinks.Please avoid all these.Have short frequent meals.try with antacid chewables or syrups.also take prescriptions given by your doctor.
Fever can be related or unrelated to it, as pharyngitis also causes fever.
many have giddiness or dizziness due tor GERD. the feeling of vertigo also.
so take proper treatment for it.
The blood changes will be nonspecific during ARS period.
RNA PCR for HIV will be best test during this ARS.
ARS usually lasts for 2-4 weeks very rarely longer than this.
I hope I have answered all your clarifications.
You can allay all fears of HIV and take treatment for GERD properly.
you can get back to me for any clarifications
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dear sir,
Many many thanks for your reply. I feel relieved. I was clueless about fever. Now I think that, probably, due to acid reflux and sore throat, there might have been an elevation in temperature.
Unfortunately the ELISA they claimed was 2nd Generation (I live in a South Asian country). I still guess whether it might have been 3rd Gen as 2nd Gen seems very old and it was an ISO certified lab. In many US websites, doctors say that, any antibody test after 4 weeks, is ENCOURAGING and unlikely to change though not conclusive. They say 85-95% people develop detectable antibodies after 4 weeks. That's why I checked after 33 days.
No doctor diagnosed candida in me, but in the first incident, the Dr just asked the symptoms (I said feeling something in my throat) and then said it might be due to GERD. I can not remember he inspected my throat there. On the second occasion, it was just few days before the ENT Dr inspected my throat (After about 50 days of the initial throat feeling). So I was just in a bad doubt that whether I had candida earlier which went away later. (That's why asked from you whether candida in ARS stage go without treatment. please tell me that sir).
Further, kindly tell me sir, Will only one ARS symptom last for more than 1 month, while other ARS Symptoms had gone in 10 days or so ?
Again, my thanks for your time.
Many many thanks for your reply. I feel relieved. I was clueless about fever. Now I think that, probably, due to acid reflux and sore throat, there might have been an elevation in temperature.
Unfortunately the ELISA they claimed was 2nd Generation (I live in a South Asian country). I still guess whether it might have been 3rd Gen as 2nd Gen seems very old and it was an ISO certified lab. In many US websites, doctors say that, any antibody test after 4 weeks, is ENCOURAGING and unlikely to change though not conclusive. They say 85-95% people develop detectable antibodies after 4 weeks. That's why I checked after 33 days.
No doctor diagnosed candida in me, but in the first incident, the Dr just asked the symptoms (I said feeling something in my throat) and then said it might be due to GERD. I can not remember he inspected my throat there. On the second occasion, it was just few days before the ENT Dr inspected my throat (After about 50 days of the initial throat feeling). So I was just in a bad doubt that whether I had candida earlier which went away later. (That's why asked from you whether candida in ARS stage go without treatment. please tell me that sir).
Further, kindly tell me sir, Will only one ARS symptom last for more than 1 month, while other ARS Symptoms had gone in 10 days or so ?
Again, my thanks for your time.
Brief Answer:
Yes some symptoms .
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.
As ELISA is negative after 33 days for now you need not worry.If at all you are anxious to get the test done again do it after 6 months.
Fungal esophagitis usually do not subside on its own unless treated or have good control of HIV.
some symptoms of ARS can persist as many symptoms overlap with the late stage of disease also.
You need not bother about all these and become more anxious and worsen your GERD.
You relax do some meditation yoga and get engaged in your activity that you forget these.
Wish you good health
You can get back to me for any clarifications else please close the discussion and rate.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh
Yes some symptoms .
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.
As ELISA is negative after 33 days for now you need not worry.If at all you are anxious to get the test done again do it after 6 months.
Fungal esophagitis usually do not subside on its own unless treated or have good control of HIV.
some symptoms of ARS can persist as many symptoms overlap with the late stage of disease also.
You need not bother about all these and become more anxious and worsen your GERD.
You relax do some meditation yoga and get engaged in your activity that you forget these.
Wish you good health
You can get back to me for any clarifications else please close the discussion and rate.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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