Hiv Symptoms

HIV symptoms are not specific and can mimic a common cold or the flu. Some of the early symptoms include fever, tiredness, headache, thrush, lymph nodes enlargement, muscular and joint pain, night sweats, diarrhea, genital ulcers, and sore throat. As the disease progresses, people get other opportunistic infections.

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Can soreness in throat and skin redness after sex be due to HIV infection?

Query: Hello doctor,I am 42 years old white male. I had protected intercourse vaginal and anal, and unprotected oral sex, vaginal and anal exactly 17 days back. Eight days after I had an itch in my throat that practically made the corner of my mouth pucker for a day or two and lost my appetite. Around the ...  Read Full »


Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com.You had protected intercourse and so the chance of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is less. The mentioned symptoms are not suggestive of HIV. But still, for peace of mind, it is advisable to investigate with a CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immuno assay) combo E...  Read Full »

Can HIV cause itchy scalp and swelling near the collarbone and left wrist?

Query: I had intercourse with a female sex worker. I had used the protection which broke either during or perhaps before penetration. But after I experienced continuous change in sensation, I checked and the condom was broken, at which point I withdrew from the intercourse before ejaculation. I asked the g...  Read Full »


Dr. Basti Bharatesh Devendra

Answer: Hi Thank you for the query. The chances of transmission of HIV by unprotected intercourse with a HIV positive person is very low. If protected almost nil. The HIV RNA PCR is negative after 10 days exposure is almost more than 95 % accurate. The chances of HIV tests coming positive later is almost ni...  Read Full »

I had sex with a sex worker, and my condom broke, but now I noticed my testicles are swollen. Is this swelling due to gonorrhea or chlamydia?

Query: Hello doctor,I had sex with a sex worker a week ago, we used a condom but it broke, twice. The first time I felt it and immediately pulled out, the second time I did not notice when it broke but the worker said that she noticed and so she pulled my penis out. Then we stopped the sexual act after tha...  Read Full »


Dr. Shah Sushma Kant

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. I understand your concern. Testicle swelling has a lot of causes such as tight-fitting undergarments, an unknown injury that might not be noticed, and driving a bike or car for a long time. So go to a general surgeon to consult the part of ...  Read Full »

I am an HIV patient, and I suspect paronychia in my fingernail, which is very painful. Kindly help.

Query: Hello doctor, I think I have an infection in my fingernail. I am HIV positive and have been taking medications. It may be paronychia and is very painful  Read Full »


Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Please send details of the medications that you were taking and the prescriptions. Besides the picture you shared (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), what are the discomforting symptoms that you are having at this time? And since when you have th...  Read Full »

Are the red dots on my fingers a sign of HIV?

Query: Hello doctor,I had deep unprotected sex for three minutes with a broken condom with a sex worker who looks younger and healthy and aged between 18. It was my first intercourse with a sex worker and I am worrying about exposure to HIV. I started fearing from the minute I had broken condom intercourse...  Read Full »


Dr. Ravinder K. Manchanda

Answer: Hi,Welcome to icliniq.com.Firstly, I want to tell you that the tests which are done these days are highly sensitive and specific and give accurate results. Congratulations on your three months HIV test, post-exposure being negative. Numerous studies have shown that 97 % of people will have enough an...  Read Full »

I have been experiencing fever, fatigue, mouth ulcers, and headache after having unprotected oral sex. Could I be HIV positive?

Query: Hello doctor, I had protected intercourse and unprotected oral sex a few days ago. I did not get any ejaculation in my mouth but I observed that the condom was broken while removing it. I did a HIV Western bolt test on the tenth, 20th, and 32nd day, and HIV RNA PCR test on the 58th day. All my tests...  Read Full »


Dr. Basti Bharatesh Devendra

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query and understand your concern. There is almost no chance that you might be HIV positive. But I suggest you undergo a HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antibody test, three months after exposure to be free of any doubt and get relieved of anxiet...  Read Full »

Why are my symptoms like flu and sore throat persisting despite getting negative fourth-generation tests multiple times after HIV exposure?

Query: Hello doctor,I was exposed to HIV some 15 weeks ago and I have gone for a fourth generation test at two weeks, four weeks, seven weeks, nine weeks, 11 weeks, and 14 weeks and a rapid test at 15 weeks and all came back negative. But I have some symptoms that are not going away like flu, sore throat, ...  Read Full »


Dr. Sidharth Sonthalia

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I suggest you calm down and do not panic. And while there are certain gaps in the information provided by you, allow me to first make and establish certain axiomatic deductions about your situation: 1) Presuming that your exposure to HIV (human immune virus) was non...  Read Full »

I am worried about HIV or other STDs after unprotected sex. What can I do?

Query: Hi doctor, I am a 33 year old male, who had unprotected sex yesterday. I was drunk, but now, I am worried about HIV or any STDs for that matter. I do not have medical access for the next three months, as I am on a ship. If I express my apprehensions, it may cost me my job. I do have Lamivudine and ...  Read Full »


Dr. Ravinder K. Manchanda

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. We do not know the HIV status (human immunodeficiency virus) of the person with whom you had sex and also your baseline HIV status, the other thing you mentioned that you do not have medical access for next three months. Considering the availability of only Lamivudin...  Read Full »

Can I contract HIV from the use of a blackhead remover?

Query: Hello doctor, I had brought a blackhead remover which includes a stainless steel needle with a blunt tip and a loop online. I used it carelessly without cleaning it yesterday. Now, I am scared to death of contracting HIV from it. Please help me.  Read Full »


Dr. Rakesh Kumar Bahunuthula

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cannot survive for long outside the human body. It is unlikely that using a comedone extractor without cleaning could spread HIV. Kindly mention if there was any bleeding when you attempted to remove the blackheads. For more inform...  Read Full »

I have had high-risk exposure to a commercial sex worker. Can HIV be present in the local inguinal nodes and not get detected in the NAT test?

Query: Hi doctor, I had a high-risk exposure with a CSW 167 days back. Did the following PCRs- 1. ID NAT for HIV 1 and 2 at 19 days and repeated the same at 67 days. 2. Then nearly ten fourth generation tests till 158 days. My question is can HIV hide in the local inguinal nodes (eclipse period) for 67 day...  Read Full »


Dr. Utkarsh Sharma

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. After a negative nucleic acid test (NAT) at 67 days and ten negative ten fourth generation tests at 158 days, I can rule out HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Also, I would like to state that female-to-male transmission of HIV through vagin...  Read Full »

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