Why am I and my family still having HIV symptoms?

Hello doctor,

I had a vaginal exposure a few years ago and after three weeks of exposure, I had a penis glans discomfortness and frequent urination, burning sensation, body aches, and flu-like symptoms with acute testes pain and tingling sensation inside the legs. After one month, all the symptoms have gone away by themselves. Then I developed candida a few months ago in my mouth that persisted till today despite taking medicine.

Then, I had neuropathy. I did an antibody test after three months, six months, and nine months post-exposure, and all reports were negative. I did a P24 antigen/ antibody test in 44 days, 112 days, and six months post-exposure, and all reports came back negative. I did a Western blot test after seven months post-exposure, and it was also negative. Did an HIV 1 RNA detection qualitative test in four months, five months, eight months, and nine months of post-exposure, and it also came back negative.

I underwent HIV 2 RNA detection qualitative PCR four months post-exposure, and it is also negative. Also, I did VDRL, hepatitis B, and C on many occasions, and it is also negative. My HSV-1 IgG is positive and IgM is negative. HSV-2 is negative. What could be the reason for my symptoms? Is it possible that I have HIV, and all the tests failed to detect it?

My wife is also having the same symptoms as candida and extreme neuropathy. Her HIV antibody test after three months and six months is negative. My 1.6-month-old breastfeeding toddler has also been having the same symptoms since he was eight months old. Even tuberculosis is diagnosed in my toddler. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply. Kindly answer the below questions.

1. As per your experience have you seen somebody who regularly tested negative for HIV for nine months but tested positive later on?

2. I am experiencing neuropathy in my legs. Also, I am having pain in the left sole.

3. My wife has neuropathy in her right arm. She is having pain in her right arm and is even unable to carry heavy objects.

4. Is it possible that the PCR test missed the infection as the body took time to produce a detectable amount of antibodies?

5. Is it possible to have all the mentioned symptoms due to HSV 1?

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

As per your suggestion, I did vitamin B12 and vitamin D tests, and both were normal. I met the doctor with all my reports. He told me that a PCR test only detects the virus if done between two and five weeks of exposure and the last phase of the infection. It is not useful in the latent phase. He told me to keep testing antibody tests till two years of exposure, as many cases are reported where the antibody test detects the infection even after 2.5 years of exposure.

Most of the infections are detected only after a year or two years of exposure, as it depends on the individual. I have two viral load reports attached in my earlier query where, in one test, it was written that the target was not detected, which was done after four months of exposure. In another test, which was done after six months of exposure, the viral load is showing below 100, but in the comments of the report, it is written that HIV RNA is not detected. This report contradicts me.

If it is not HIV, then what could be the reason for my symptoms?

Kindly suggest.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

My vitamin B12 is normal. I am concerned, as I am having candida, neuropathy, recurrent pharyngitis, and a fungal infection around the anus now. A doctor from the hospital I visited has advised me to keep testing till two years of exposure, as antibody tests detect only after one year or two years of post-exposure in most cases.

He told me that a PCR test does not detect HIV after five weeks, and it detects only the early stage and later stage. Is this information correct? My wife lost more than 10 kilograms within eight months. I have done the HIV-1 viral load test twice, and RNA was not detected. Can an undetectable amount of virus in the body still cause candida, neuropathy, and sore throat?

Kindly help.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply. Kindly answer the below questions.

1. Is it true that rapid tests took even more than two years to detect the infection as the window period for HIV is being fixed at 90 days by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), WHO (World Health Organization), and NACO (National AIDS Control Organization)?

2. Have you seen somebody having symptoms and tested negative for up to 10 months and later tested positive?

3. Does my symptoms indicate HIV infection as per your experience?

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

On what basis is the HIV antibody rapid test window period fixed at 23 to 90 days by the CDC? As PCR multiplies the number of RNA copies many times. Will a PCR test detect the RNA of the virus, even if one virus is present in the sample? I did lots of PCR qualitative tests, and all came back negative. Does it mean no virus in the blood? Where does the virus hide other than in blood? Kindly help.

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

It has been one year since my last exposure. I still have a white tongue, headache, and body weakness, and now again, a circular-shaped rash on my penis glans. The white tongue does not go away despite taking Fluconazole. I did a fourth-generation lab HIV test within 11 months of exposure, and it was negative for both p24 antigen and antibody.

Again, a rapid antibody test after 1 year, and it was also negative. My HSV-1 IgG is positive, and IgM is negative. Epstein-Barr virus IgG is positive and very high. Could my problems be all because of the Epstein-Barr virus? Does the Epstein-Barr virus weaken the body's immunity and make it fight against other infections?

Please help.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply. Does the Epstein-Barr virus cause damage to the body? I am positive for Epstein-Barr virus IgG. Is it possible that all the fungal infections in me are occurring due to the Epstein-Barr virus? Have you seen someone who tested negative for HIV P24 antigen in one year of exposure and later turned positive in your entire career? Kindly help.

Thank you.