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Are white tongue, muscle aches, and sore throat symptoms of HIV?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At March 10, 2018
Reviewed AtJuly 11, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I had an unprotected sexual contact with a commercial sex worker some six months ago. I do not know the health status of that lady. After 30 days of exposure, I got fever and body pain and I went to the hospital for treatment. He suggested checking a widal test and a urine test. The results came as typhoid and I had taken medicines for that too and for stomach pain. Three courses of antibiotics have been taken. The stomach upset was the main problem that time. I am normal now. After one month, I had white plaques like formations on the tongue and one side of the tongue color also slightly changed. I consulted a dentist and he told me the tongue was normal. I went for HIV tests as below: HIV rapid test after 40 days - negative HIV Combo test after 70 days - negative HIV CD4 test after 70 days - normal HIV Duo test after 84 days - negative HIV rapid test after 88 days - negative STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) full test after 88 days - all negative HIV ELISA test after 110 days - negative unit as 0.06 HIV ELISA test after 155 days - negative unit as 0.07. My doubt is I have many symptoms like a sore throat with red patches, white tongue, body ache, muscle ache, white dot on the head like itching. I sometimes have a burning sensation. These symptoms have been there for three months. I am wondering it could be due to the exposure. Mostly, I have consulted with a general physician for muscle ache and body ache. I feel like my neck muscles have reduced a little bit. My doubt is whether I have been infected with HIV? My recent test is HIV antibody test at 155 days from my exposure being negative.

Please advice.

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your screening tests have convincingly ruled out HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Perhaps you have oral thrush which may have started because of repeated courses of oral antibiotics. I suggest you use a topical antifungal like Clotrimazole mouth paint. In addition, I also suggest you take an oral antifungal like tablet Fluconazole 50 mg once a day for two weeks. Kindly consult a specialist, talk with them and take the medications with their consent.

I hope this helps.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sushil Kakkar
Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Dermatology

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