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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Itching And Hot Flashes Be Due To HIV?

hI PLEASE HELP ME



I recently had a sexual encounter in Siem Reap with a Cambodian man, who I later found out uses a lot of prostitutes. He was a bike taxi driver. I had been drinking so not sure if a condom was used. Im so scared, as I have been having hot flashes a lot and my skin feels itchy! I had a night the other evening when I felt unusual and shaky, couldnt sleep even though I had taken Diazipan. I felt like my body was rushing. Im so scared of the other syptoms appearing now. I get pins and needles and as I said itchy and hot all the time. Im so terrified as im travelling alone. and feel my life is over!!! I dont know if he has HIV but most Cambodian drivers I read do. is it really easy to get after one time!! And i know there are tests now that I can have that you can find out before 3 months!!! are these available in Sydney area!!! I feel I already know I have it and am making plans to start a new life somewhere where no1 will know me! my friends will not accept me and i will never find a partner or have children!!! Please can you help and give me as much information as possible!! Im scared to go to bed as I cant sleep im having anxiety attackes all the time and cant think of anything else!! I really hope you get back to me soon!! Thank you
Tue, 20 May 2014
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concerns.

Within a month or two of HIV entering the body most of people experience flulike symptoms known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) that include mild fever, up to about 102 degrees F , fatigue, swollen lymph glands,pain in the joints and muscles, a sore throat, nausea,vomiting,diarrhea
But sometimes HIV symptoms don't appear for years—sometimes even a decade—after infection.

So it is needed some time (1-2 months) after the exposure for these symptoms to appear.In your case the symptoms you describe are not due to HIV infection but probably from your anxiety ,stress,your fear and thinking constantly you have got the infection.

Is a wrong way for you convincing yourself that you already have this infection and your life is ended.This is too early and you always need to think and hope for the best.

In your case there are a lot of incertitude if there was an exposure to HIV or not:
-First of all you don't know if he was infected.Let assume that he is HIV positive.
-You don't know if you used protection.It is possible that you have used condom.
-A thing that you should know is that if we assume he is HIV positive and you didn't use condom still the probability you get infected is not 100 %. Several studies have estimated the risk of HIV transmission through receptive vaginal sex to be 0.08% (equivalent to 1 transmission per 1,250 exposures).

The point of all this is that you don't need to panic and to think that everything is over.
There is a possibility that you got the infection because you don't know the HIV status of your partner and you are not sure you used protection.
For this reason you need to be tested for HIV.Taking an HIV test is the only way to determine whether you have the disease.

Every lab and clinic in every city can test you for HIV.So consult a physician for the right test you should do and get the test done.The result is available in the same day you do the test.

Hope my answer has helped.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
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Can Itching And Hot Flashes Be Due To HIV?

Hello! I read carefully your query and understand your concerns. Within a month or two of HIV entering the body most of people experience flulike symptoms known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) that include mild fever, up to about 102 degrees F , fatigue, swollen lymph glands,pain in the joints and muscles, a sore throat, nausea,vomiting,diarrhea But sometimes HIV symptoms don t appear for years—sometimes even a decade—after infection. So it is needed some time (1-2 months) after the exposure for these symptoms to appear.In your case the symptoms you describe are not due to HIV infection but probably from your anxiety ,stress,your fear and thinking constantly you have got the infection. Is a wrong way for you convincing yourself that you already have this infection and your life is ended.This is too early and you always need to think and hope for the best. In your case there are a lot of incertitude if there was an exposure to HIV or not: -First of all you don t know if he was infected.Let assume that he is HIV positive. -You don t know if you used protection.It is possible that you have used condom. -A thing that you should know is that if we assume he is HIV positive and you didn t use condom still the probability you get infected is not 100 %. Several studies have estimated the risk of HIV transmission through receptive vaginal sex to be 0.08% (equivalent to 1 transmission per 1,250 exposures). The point of all this is that you don t need to panic and to think that everything is over. There is a possibility that you got the infection because you don t know the HIV status of your partner and you are not sure you used protection. For this reason you need to be tested for HIV.Taking an HIV test is the only way to determine whether you have the disease. Every lab and clinic in every city can test you for HIV.So consult a physician for the right test you should do and get the test done.The result is available in the same day you do the test. Hope my answer has helped. Take care. Dr.Rovena