Dr. Shah Sushma Kant
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 have a medical history of fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and intermittent joint pain.
Recently, I experienced two potential exposures to HIV, three days apart. The first was a needle stick injury at work, where the patient tested negative for HIV. The second incident involved a toenail scratch that might have broken the skin, leading to inflammation. However, the patient's HIV status remains unknown as they were not tested.
Around two weeks after these incidents, I developed symptoms including night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, joint pain, a sore throat, and mouth sores. I underwent a 4th generation HIV test 16 and 18 days post-exposures, both of which returned non-reactive results.
Currently, it has been two and a half months since the exposures, and I continue to experience fluctuating fatigue, persistent swollen lymph nodes, occasional warmth, and random joint pains. I plan to wait until the three-month mark to repeat the HIV test. Kindly help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
Despite multiple potential exposures, your fourth-generation HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) tests returning negative results make it highly unlikely that HIV infection is the cause of your symptoms.
However, to further investigate your persistent symptoms, especially swollen lymph nodes, consulting a general surgeon for a needle biopsy (FNAC) is advisable. Histopathological examination of the biopsy material can provide a clearer understanding of the underlying condition. If the biopsy results are negative, it would strongly suggest the absence of HIV infection.
For symptomatic relief, consider the following treatments:
Tentum gargles (Benzydamine HCl) before breakfast and dinner for two minutes.
Tablet SigmoFlam ( Paracetamol, Aceclofenac, and Serratiopeptidase.) twice a day after lunch and dinner for five to seven days.
Tablet Amoxiclave 625 (Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid) twice a day after lunch and dinner for five to seven days.
Local application of Volini gel (Diclofenac diethylamine, Methyl salicylate, Menthol, and Linseed oil) or spray for joint pain.
Continuing with these treatments until the third month for another fourth-generation CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) kit test can provide further reassurance. If this test also returns negative, it is highly unlikely that HIV infection is the cause of your symptoms.
Considering other climatic conditions or factors may be at play, I suggest monitoring your symptoms closely and seeking medical attention if they persist or worsen.
I hope these suggestions help.
Thank you.
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HIV/AIDS specialist
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