Hi,
Firstly – just want to comment on what a great service this is that you offer, especially if you are stuck overseas and looking for some good advice!
I am currently working in Sub-Saharan Africa, and after many years of working here, made one big mistake after quite a few drinks and had sex with one of the local girls, most likely a CSW.
Have already sought some local advice from a GP, but hoped you could provide some general feedback on my symptoms.
The event took place two weeks ago and included unprotected oral sex and protected vaginal intercourse (with a condom – cannot be sure of quality). The condom did not break and the whole experience lasted about 5-10 minutes.
Within about 48 hours, I developed a small rash in the groin area, on either side of my genitals, which became quite sore. The rash appeared like a thin red sore directly adjacent to either side of my genitals, with a white powder appearance on the surface. In addition to this, the lymph nodes in my groin became quite swollen and the top half of my legs began to ache. I also noticed that I was drinking lots more water, and that my mouth was quite dry. All of this occurred within about 48 - 72 hours.
Within a few days I also began to become fatigued and I felt that my testicles were slightly swollen / sore. I visited a doctor here, who diagnosed the rash as a fungal infection and that the dull pain in the testicles may have been due to orchitis. As such I was prescribed with 7 days of 250mg ciprofloxin (taken twice daily) and anti-fungal tablets for the same length of time. During this period I felt very tired and my legs ached a lot (lasted approximately 5 days) and I felt generally unwell and found it difficult to focus.
Following the course of antibiotics, my lymph nodes were still slightly swollen in my groin, and I returned to my doctor who then prescribed me with Azithral – 250 (which I took 2 tablets on the first day, and then a single tablet for the following 4 days).
It has now been two weeks since this event, and although I am just coming to the end of my antibiotics (Azithral), my mouth is still very dry and I am having to constantly drink plenty of water. When I don’t drink water, my mouth and throat are very dry and have a white appearance. I also feel that my glands around my jaw are slightly raised and also my glands in my groin. I don’t have a sore throat, nor do I feel tired or ache, or have a fever. However I am very worried that these symptoms may be something more serious.
Do you think these symptoms could be linked to HIV or another STD, or are they too early to appear?
I also have some general questions which I hope you can answer:
1) I have read that swollen lymph nodes are normally the first sign of primary infection of HIV. Is it possible for these symptoms to occur within the first few days? if not when would you expect this to occur?
2) What could be the cause of my dry mouth? I notice that when I don’t drink water, my tongue and the back of my throat are white, but once I have water it returns to a normal colour. My throat is not sore when I eat or swallow water, but quickly becomes very parched.
3) Can you contract HIV through jock itch?
4) If I am tested locally for HIV at 3 weeks for the HIV antibody, would this test be the same as the DUO Test you offer?
I am due to return to the UK shortly and will get a full STD and HIV screening there, but having read various internet blogs, keep finding conflicting information regarding early symptoms of HIV and other stds, particularly the timing of when these symptoms may appear.
Thank you for your post and welcome to our forum. First of all, I would like to say that the chances of you having become infected with HIV are quite low, becuase you used a condom for penetration and you seem to be quite sure that it remained in place and intact. There is no risk of HIV infection from receiving oral sex.
I am going to try to answer all your questions in 'red; here below:
Do you think these symptoms could be linked to HIV or another STD, or are they too early to appear? I do not think that they are linked to HIV as they started far too early. Some of the symptoms described could be consistent with thrush (as the doctor that you saw suggests), but also herpes. It is difficult to give you any advice about symptoms without seeing and examining you.
I also have some general questions which I hope you can answer:
1) I have read that swollen lymph nodes are normally the first sign of primary infection of HIV. Is it possible for these symptoms to occur within the first few days? if not when would you expect this to occur?They would normally only appear at some time between two and six weeks after the exposure to the virus
2) What could be the cause of my dry mouth? I notice that when I don’t drink water, my tongue and the back of my throat are white, but once I have water it returns to a normal colour. My throat is not sore when I eat or swallow water, but quickly becomes very parched. Difficult to tell. It might not be related to any STDs unless you had performed oral sex, which I do not beleive this to be the case. It could also be related to anxiety due to all the worry you are going through. Stress can certainly cause oral thrush. However again I reiterate that I cannot give you advice about these symptoms without a proper examination.
3) Can you contract HIV through jock itch?No, not as far as I know. The chances of HIV infection through skin affected by jock itch would be very, very low.
4) If I am tested locally for HIV at 3 weeks for the HIV antibody, would this test be the same as the DUO Test you offer?No, it is not the same. If it is a HIV antibody test alone, this would not be very relaible so early on. The HIV Duo tests for the p24 antigen as well and this is conclsuive after 4 weeks.
Thanks for the feedback below. Appreciate it is not possible to diagnose without tests / visiting in person and will be visiting a GUM clinic as soon as I return to the UK.
All of my symptoms appear to have now disappeared (2.5 weeks after exposure) and all that I am remaining with is dry mouth / lips. I did not perform oral sex, and note your comment that it may be oral thrush. Can you please advise on common symptoms of herpes and possible timeline of this?
Also I just wondered whether it is possible to have the HIV Duo test at 25 days or is the earliest always 28 days? Have read some reports online that 25 days is the conclusive date for this test.
Hi David,
I honestly don't think that your symptoms have anything to do with HIV sero-conversion.
Most people would get symptoms sometime between two and six weeks after infection, and not before.
Symptoms of herpes are typically a painful and sore rash, usually with blisters, appearing within three weeks of exposure, lasting for a few days and disappearing spontaneously without treatment, together with enlarged lymph nodes and general malaise and fatigue.
Regarding the HIV Duo test, the recommended window period for testing is 28 days. However the p24 antigen is already detectable after 14 days and there is minimal statistical difference in tests performed after 25 or 28 days. Therefore you could consider it conclusive already after 25 days.
Best wishes,
José
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