Recently Answered Questions
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I came into contact with the spit of AIDS infected person. Is there any chance of having AIDS?
Query: Hi doctor, I was really scared. Yesterday I sat in a cop's car. After we left the cop car, the cop told me someone who might have AIDS had bloody gums and spit everywhere in the backseat, so I changed my clothes and washed my hands. Still, I forgot to change my underwear, so four to five hours later... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your risk is unwarranted in this case. HIV can not survive in the environment. HIV cannot be transmitted by spitting, hugging, or kissing. Besides, saliva has antiviral factors which kill the virus. HIV can only be transmitted by sexual contact (anal, vaginal, or oral), t... Read Full »
I am taking care of my sister diagnosed with AIDS and concerned about HIV transmission. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I was at the hospital visiting my sister, who is diagnosed with full-blown AIDS. I tried to care for her by putting Vaseline on her lips and feeding her ice and peppermints. I was hesitant to apply the lip gloss. Also, she decided the mints hurt, so she spit the mint out in my hand. I thr... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concern. The answer to your query is that it is not the route of human immune virus (HIV) transmission because: 1)Saliva does not transmit HIV. 2) Quantity of HIV in saliva is not high. 3) Saliva itself has anti-HIV antibodies t... Read Full »
Can HIV patient lead a normal life without transmitting the infection?
Query: Hi doctor, One of my relatives is HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive. He says that it is functional and the virus is not affecting him in any way and he will not transmit the infection to anyone. As per him he does not require the antiviral medicine also but taking it as he is extra cautiou... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. There is nothing like functional HIV infection. Confirm, whether he is HIV 1 or 2 because HIV 2 is less infectious and less violent than 1. If he is infected with 1, then there will be slow progressor or rapid progressor. If he is rapid, then he will have a low CD4 count... Read Full »
I had unprotected sex with a transgender sex worker. Can I get AIDS?
Query: Hello doctor, I had unprotected sex with a transgender sex worker two weeks ago. The sex worker had both of the testicles removed so there was no ejaculation and claimed to be clean. But since then, I have become very paranoid with severe anxiety. Since I was scared, I took a PCR (Polymerase Chain R... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. The chances of transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) by single unprotected intercourse with an HIV-positive person are low. And if the person is HIV-negative, then there are no chances. HIV RNA (ribonucleic acid) PCR (polymerase chai... Read Full »
I did a home HIV test and got negative results. How do I know if my results are accurate?
Query: Hi doctor, I did a self-HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) test 45 days after a sexual encounter and tested negative. As the window period for the test is 90 days, I feel the test reports could be inaccurate. Currently, I am taking tablet Finasteride for hair loss. I would like to understand how lik... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to iCliniq.com. I have read your query and can understand your concern. The home-based HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) tests are very sensitive and accurate if performed according to the instructions. These are antibody tests, so the chances of HIV tests coming positive later is almos... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, I have had an ulcer after fingering for the past two weeks. I am not experiencing any other symptoms or have a previous history. I did my fourth generation human immunodeficiency (HIV) lab test on the 10th, 12th, and 23rd day and all came negative. However, I am experiencing symptoms now,... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The fourth generation test window period starts on the 28th day. This test has multiple window periods on any following days; 38, 42, 54, 63, 83, etc. So your tests are not at all in the window period. Fingering with an ulcer does not cause human immunodeficiency virus... Read Full »
I am concerned about HIV due to low monocyte level. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I underwent a regular blood test recently. It shows my monocytes level is low which is 0.11 where the normal rate should be 0.2-1. I just googled what could be cause for the same. It says it could be because of viral infections including HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) /AIDS(Acquired... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Monocytes may increase or decrease, it hardly matters. One of the cause is viral disease. Not only HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) virus may cause this, but there are also many other viruses like cytomegala virus which can cause this. Flu is also caused by virus. Now... Read Full »
Are homosexuals more prone to get peritonitis?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a homosexual and this is my second time of having anal sex. It has been three weeks my partner had ejaculated inside of me, and then only I heard about peritonitis. I was wondering whether I was exposed to it or will it harm me? I heard that it may lead to death and if so, how lo... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Well, precautions first - While there is absolutely nothing wrong medically in your sexual orientation, irrespective of the legal status in your state, it is definitely not advisable to have unprotected intercourse with anyone. Even the use of condoms only ensures 95% ... Read Full »
My last HIV risk exposure was three to four years back. Am I safe now?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 65-year-old white male who tested negative for HIV 1 and 2 in a one-time test three to four years ago. I am not sure if it was a third or fourth-generation test. I tested negative with a fourth-generation test four months back because I thought I might have some symptoms. And I ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your test done before four months is certainly conclusive and final. Three months intervening period/window period between risk exposure and a fourth-generation HIV screening test is good enough for it to be considered conclusive. 95 % of those infected with HIV (Human Im... Read Full »
Can a purple blotch on the nose mean that I have Kaposi's sarcoma?
Query: Hello doctor, I had protected sex with a sex worker last year. After sex, I forgot to clean my scrotum and did not realize until 30 minutes later. I had a negative OraQuick at six months and a negative rapid blood test at 10 months, but I read that false negatives can happen. I do not remember havin... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The test kits used these days to diagnose HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are highly sensitive and specific and gives accurate results. Your negative HIV test results (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) at six and then at ten months of exposure a... Read Full »