Does diarrhea and fever after unprotected sex indicate HIV?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 35-year-old male. I am facing some symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, headache, chest pain, and sometimes shortness of breath. I had unprotected sex with a sex worker. This incident happened two weeks back. I am not aware of the sex worker’s health status. Now, I am worried that I have developed HIV after starting to face these symptoms. Can this be HIV? How to know whether I have been infected with this infection? What are the tests that can be done at this stage to diagnose it? Can taking PEP medications help me? What are the other medications or treatments that can be taken? Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) symptoms typically appear two to four weeks after exposure, known as acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). To determine if you have HIV, you should get tested with an HIV-RNA (ribonucleic acid) test (NAT - nucleic acid test) or HIV antigen/antibody test.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be started within 72 hours of potential exposure to reduce the risk of infection. If you have missed this window, consult a healthcare provider for further testing and guidance. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the primary treatment for HIV, and early initiation is key to managing the virus.

I hope this helps.

Take care.