Dr. Ravinder K. Sachdeva
HIV/AIDS specialist
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 32 year old woman, and I have warts on my genitals and around the area, which led me to a dermatologist. The doctor diagnosed them as STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and advised me to get HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) tested, as part of the diagnosis. The blood sample resulted in a reactive result. I approached another lab and got both ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Western blot tests done. There too it resulted in reactive for HIV-1 and non-reactive for HIV-2. The overall result classified as provisionally reactive. The HIV-1 antibodies have all shown up positive. HIV-2 antibodies have resulted in a negative. I am curious to know as to how it can come positive or reactive when I have no such symptoms, and my immunity is quite healthy. I am enclosing the lab reports for your reference. Please help me with the way forward to negate this or confirm this. Kindly note that my partner denies having been infected with the virus, and I have had no other partner till date other than him. I have a good appetite, sleep, and motions. I do not have a cold or flu or fever in the recent past (last two years). I do not have sudden weight gain or loss either. I have irregular periods and minimal menses flow. Usually, my periods get irregular when I have intercourse with my partner. I do get fungal infections at times, for which I apply Candida ointment. Also, my research on the internet read that there is a window under which repeated tests are needed to be done to confirm the presence of HIV, but no doctor till now has advised me any such thing for that matter. I strongly feel and believe it is just STD and not HIV. I request your advice to get more clarity on this. Thank you.
Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have seen your reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can be acquired through sexual contact (anal or vaginal or oral), blood transfusion, exchange of contaminated syringes or needles or there can be a vertical transmission from HIV-infected mother to her child during pregnancy, delivery or breastfeed. When an infection is acquired, usually it progresses through three stages of infection: Initial acute infection: This occurs within 2 to 4 weeks after infection. Some people have flu-like symptoms, and others do not. Clinical latency: During this, people might not have any symptoms and those who are not taking any treatment. It might last for a decade, or sometimes it progresses faster. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome): In this, the immune system is badly damaged and manifests with an increasing number of opportunistic infections or severe illnesses. With proper medication and antiretrovirals, HIV can be effectively controlled, and these days if this treatment is started before the disease is advanced, people can live as long as someone who is not having HIV. And the treatment is really easy to take. This treatment and the testing facility which includes HIV test, CD4, and other baseline investigations, are available free of cost in many centers. Your test has been found preliminary reactive by the rapid tests and the Western blot. I suggest you reach the nearest testing center of your area. These centers are located in the government hospitals. Your partner will also be convinced to test by the counselor. I can understand your fear, but now you need to face the situation strongly. There are more than ten lakh people in our country who are taking ART (antiretroviral therapy) from last so many years. ART really improves the quality of life, and with the regular treatment, you will not have any fungal infection or any other infection. Hope my answer has given you some direction. Please do not hesitate to ask or call anytime for any other question. Best wishes. Stay healthy.
Patient's Query
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HIV/AIDS specialist
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