Recently Answered Questions
All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.
Is the HIV DNA PCR test accurate after 14 days?
Query: Hello doctor, Would the HIV DNA PCR tests at 14 days and fourth generation test at four weeks be reliable if it is negative? Symptoms as of now are joint pains since two to three months and sometimes a headache. I am a heavy alcohol drinker and smoker too. Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a highly reliable test. The fourth generation is considered conclusive at four weeks after the last exposure. Hence if your tests are negative at this point, you could totally relax and take off the doubt of HIV (human immunodefi... Read Full »
I have a sore on my tongue and irritation in my throat. Why?
Query: Hi doctor, I had an infection before seven months. I got HSV1 (Herpes Simplex Virus). I was given Acyclovir 200 mg taken five times a day for five days and then they increased my dosage to 400 mg to be taken for five times a day for 10 days. After my Acyclovir course ended, I did an RNA (Ribonucleic... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I wish to clear some important points before answering your questions. Regarding HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) infection and treatment: The HSV will remain in your body and it is not completely treated as it is a genetic material. It will be present in the cells and get rea... Read Full »
Is my dry eye syndrome due to HIV or hepatitis, which I acquired from a dirty needle stick injury?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a dirty needle stick in my job a year back, and my last test for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and Hepatitis was 346 days after exposure. Both tests came back negative, and recently about a month ago, I developed dry eye syndrome. I consulted a doctor for this condition, and... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the query. The 4th generation HIV tests are accurate. If they are negative, as mentioned, it is conclusive. There is no need for further HIV tests provided there is no further risk exposure. Relax. These symptoms are non-specific and are not related to HIV. ... Read Full »
My HIV tests are repeatedly negative. Can I still have HIV?
Query: Hello doctor, Is it possible I can be an elite controller of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)? I was exposed to HIV a year ago. I tested using a self-test kit six months later, and it only showed one line, but at the place of the second line, only a small dot appeared. I got scared and went for a... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read the query, and I can understand your concern. Rapid card test results follow the all-or-none principle. You require a complete line to be considered positive. Anything other than that is negative. Also, you have gone through multiple other tests with signif... Read Full »
Eventhough I did not penetrate, is there a risk for HIV?
Query: Hi doctor,I recently had a contact with a sex worker. I am sure that there was no penetration at all, but I am worried since I was not wearing a condom. Is there any risk for HIV? Do her secretions contain virus? I am very scared. Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, if there is contact of her secretion with your glans, then you are at risk. Can you tell me the exact date on which exposure happens in order to tell you the right test? Revert back with the answer to the above question to a sexologist online --> https://www.icli... Read Full »
I had unprotected sex. Am I at STD risk?
Query: Hi doctor, I am circumcised and have no sexually transmitted disease. I had an unprotected penile to vaginal exposure. It took less than ten minutes; I had used a condom but it broke within the last two minutes. I did not ejaculate, but took a shower and urinated after the incident. She said she wa... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, I appreciate you signing up on icliniq.com. You now have exclusive access to expert medical opinion. The chances of transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) by single unprotected intercourse are low. Condom breaks can be considered almost as unprotected intercourse. In your scenario... Read Full »
I have fatigue, increased saliva and throat pain months after unprotected sex. Why?
Query: Hello doctor,I had unprotected sex with a sex worker three and a half months ago. Two months later, I started having ARS symptoms, fatigue, diarrhea, dizziness, sore throat, and mouth ulcers. Just a day before that I had protected sex with a sex worker but my penis was not fully erect and did not in... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. First, HIV symptoms are non-specific and are common to most infections and are referred to as flu-like symptoms. HIV infection symptoms in the acute phase often go undetected and are self-healed without any active intervention due to an intact immune system. These sympt... Read Full »
I got cold after having protected sex. Is it due to HIV?
Query: Hello doctor, About six weeks ago, I had protected sex with a male. About two weeks later, I developed a cold, which got better. Now, I have been feeling random zings (not really painful) in my armpit. I have also got five “pimples” in a cluster on my back. Do I need to be worried about HIV? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Protected sex is safe and there is no risk of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Having cold or flu is not a specific symptom or sign of HIV. Cold is otherwise very common in the general population and is not a reason to suspect HIV. For pimples, I would suggest you u... Read Full »
Can p24 antigen test detect HIV early?
Query: Hi doctor, Before 19 days, I had protected sex with a part-time sex worker and freaked out after the incident. I am worried about any possible infection that could happen. I did a p24 antigen test. The results are p24 antigen on fourth day-0.125, sixth day-0.254, ninth day-0.271, twelfth day-0.274, ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, the titer of p24 is increased, but still, it is below the threshold value of being positive. Also, your PCR RNA done after two weeks is also negative. Your HIV 1 and HIV 2 tests done on the nineteenth day is also negative. It indicates that you do not have any inf... Read Full »
My HIV self test came positive. What shall I do? Kindly guide
Query: Hello doctor, I tested with a third generation test which was a self-test using a finger prick. It was called a sure-check HIV self-test. I could not interpret the result, as I saw the control line, but as for the test line, it was not there. I only saw the shade of it, or maybe an actual red color ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com I read your query and understand your concern. The HIV fourth generation antibodies test negative result after six months last exposure is conclusive provided there is no further risk exposure. There is no need for further HIV tests. I hope this helps. Thank you. Read Full »