Aa
I am really worried about HIV
Doctor, I had unprotected anal sex. Three weeks after I developed a Rash all over trunk and back, it was maculopapular rash.I than had canker sores appear on mouth, ears, arm and penis.Also during the 3 week rash period i had night sweats, hair falling out and nausea There were multiple sores and getting worse everyday. I went to doctor and had all bloodwork, including test for HIV I and II at Quest Diagnostic Labs in New York. I called Quest Diagnostic several times to ask what generation test they utilize and all I get is there is no generation we use the latest HIV I and II testing. I was diagnosed with Syphllis -very high reactive , they said primary even though i had a rash and multiple cankers by the infectologist. HIV test was Negative-no reaction .The test was 95 days after exposure and had no sexaul contact after that exposure. Should I be tested again for HIV or was the 95 days negative result conclusive. Since i had syphllis, could syphllis interfere with an HIV test and also was drinking due to severe depression. No infectious doctor i went to here could explain why i had a rash-maculopapular 3 weeks after encounter which lasted for 3 weeks and multiple canker sores appeared almost when rash was going away. They said the rash never comes before the cankers and I would be in Med books if this happened. I was also told Syphllis and HIV go together, and if you had canker sores (multiple) and the rash first this could indicate HIV infection yet at 95 days the HIV test was negative..., I am extremely worried ,stressed and cant even sleep anymore. I would appreciate any advise you can give me..thank you
Worried
Worried
To: Dr Jose
Thank you your previous response, I am still very worried. Let me explain. Unprotected anal sex Aug 09. Than three weeks later developed a macular papular rash all over chest and back. Two weeks later had multiple cankers apearing on my body. The rash went away exactly 3 weeks later and sores getting worse. Went to the doctor November 1st and had all STD test performed. Highly reactive for syphllis but HIV negative. Treated for syphllis and all sores went away. I am very concerned i still was at risk for HIV. I took another HIV Home Acces Test approved by FDA at 6 months and that was negative. The reason i am still crazy worried is i still wake up sick, sore throat night sweats sometimes. I have read that there were cases where people continue to show negative on these eliza tests.. Than show positive a year later. Could i be the same and be a person to convert slow after 6 months.. No doctor can explain how i had a rash first three weeks after encounter than two weeks later cankers came( i did not have any canker before the rash. The doctor said to me this could indicate HIV infection to retest at 6 months and i did which was Negative.. How can i have the rash before cankers and i know i never had syphllis before because i never did anything risky before. Should i take a PCR or RNA test to finally take this out of my mind. I cant stop worrying that i may be a slow converter and this will appear past the 6 months Elisa test i took. Please help with any advice i am really worried sick i may have HIV still but just not showing antibodies at 3 and 6 months tests.
Thank you Dr Jose
Thank you your previous response, I am still very worried. Let me explain. Unprotected anal sex Aug 09. Than three weeks later developed a macular papular rash all over chest and back. Two weeks later had multiple cankers apearing on my body. The rash went away exactly 3 weeks later and sores getting worse. Went to the doctor November 1st and had all STD test performed. Highly reactive for syphllis but HIV negative. Treated for syphllis and all sores went away. I am very concerned i still was at risk for HIV. I took another HIV Home Acces Test approved by FDA at 6 months and that was negative. The reason i am still crazy worried is i still wake up sick, sore throat night sweats sometimes. I have read that there were cases where people continue to show negative on these eliza tests.. Than show positive a year later. Could i be the same and be a person to convert slow after 6 months.. No doctor can explain how i had a rash first three weeks after encounter than two weeks later cankers came( i did not have any canker before the rash. The doctor said to me this could indicate HIV infection to retest at 6 months and i did which was Negative.. How can i have the rash before cankers and i know i never had syphllis before because i never did anything risky before. Should i take a PCR or RNA test to finally take this out of my mind. I cant stop worrying that i may be a slow converter and this will appear past the 6 months Elisa test i took. Please help with any advice i am really worried sick i may have HIV still but just not showing antibodies at 3 and 6 months tests.
Thank you Dr Jose
Please respond to my last posted question please.
I didnt have any chankers before the rash all over my trunk. They say syphllis rash comes after the chanker, how can this be possible?
I didnt have any chankers before the rash all over my trunk. They say syphllis rash comes after the chanker, how can this be possible?
Thank you for the quick response.
The questions i still have is that i never had a rash before in my life. The only encounter was the one i mentioned. I have had a partner for many years and we both never did anything outside the relationship. My partner has never had an STD and neither have i.
It had to come from this one encounter.
If i did not have syphllis before how could i have a Rash only on the trunk and Back, not on my hand or palms. Than the multilpe cankers came. So how can this be secondary syphllis. The infectious doctors that treated me with penicillian believed it was primary. The rash appeared exactly 3 weeks after encounter and the multiple cankers 10 days after the rash. I took this HIV test 95 days after the only encounter i ever had outside my my relationship i have with my partner. This type of Rash is very indicative of HIV infection i read where it comes 3 weeks after the encounter , it lasts about the same time and is macular-papular rash on trunk and back only.Can this negative HIV test be conclusive at 95 days or is it possible at 6 months i should take another. I have read that a positive result happens often at 6 months.Can the HIV test i took not show a positive result at 95 days and than show positive at 6 months?? I am so stressed to think i have to take another HIV test and go through this again of waiting and worrying.
Thank you for all your help.
The questions i still have is that i never had a rash before in my life. The only encounter was the one i mentioned. I have had a partner for many years and we both never did anything outside the relationship. My partner has never had an STD and neither have i.
It had to come from this one encounter.
If i did not have syphllis before how could i have a Rash only on the trunk and Back, not on my hand or palms. Than the multilpe cankers came. So how can this be secondary syphllis. The infectious doctors that treated me with penicillian believed it was primary. The rash appeared exactly 3 weeks after encounter and the multiple cankers 10 days after the rash. I took this HIV test 95 days after the only encounter i ever had outside my my relationship i have with my partner. This type of Rash is very indicative of HIV infection i read where it comes 3 weeks after the encounter , it lasts about the same time and is macular-papular rash on trunk and back only.Can this negative HIV test be conclusive at 95 days or is it possible at 6 months i should take another. I have read that a positive result happens often at 6 months.Can the HIV test i took not show a positive result at 95 days and than show positive at 6 months?? I am so stressed to think i have to take another HIV test and go through this again of waiting and worrying.
Thank you for all your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello there,
Thank you very much for your post.
Syphilis is a condition that sometimes can present with very unusual symptoms and it is not the same in all individuals. The incidence of this sexually transmitted disease is increasing and can be transmitted very easily, even with oral sex only. In your case, it is possible that you might have been infected before that unprotected anal intercourse and you assume that it was that episode, and in fact your symptoms might have been those of secondary syphilis. The rash in itself might be conicidental and might not be related to syphilis anyway. The important fact here is that you contracted syphilis and I hope that you have been treated by now. In primary syphilis, it has become more common for multiple ulcers to appear, especially in male homosexual outbreaks. These symptoms of primary syphilis can appear between 9 to 90 days after infection, but the average is around 3 weeks. Typical symptoms of secondary syphilis, usually happening 6 to 12 weeks after infection, can include malaise, fever, headaches, night sweats, hair loss, nausea, as well as a macular rash all over body, but mainly on trunk, and a papular rash affecting palms and soles, as well as multiple ulcers with white/grey borders in mouth, genitalia, anus, etc. The description of your symptoms correlates much more with these, which appear in secondary syphilis. That is why I think that it is more likely that what you had was secondary syphilis, rather than primary syphilis, which you probably had previosuly (possibly in the form of a syphilitic chancre, perhaps inside the mouth that you did not even notice). This way then your symptoms would make sense.
In relation with HIV, the fact that you had a negative antibody test at 95 days, that would make the result fully conclucive and would confirm that you did not get infected with HIV. This test would have not been affected neither by the fact that you had syphilis, nor by drinking too much alcohol. You definitely do not have HIV, you can rest assured of that.
If you have already been treated for syphilis, I would strongly recommedn you having a VDRL blood test 3 months after the treatment, to ensure that this disease has been erradicated completely and that you have not had a relapse or re-infection.
Best wisehs,
Dr Jose
Thank you very much for your post.
Syphilis is a condition that sometimes can present with very unusual symptoms and it is not the same in all individuals. The incidence of this sexually transmitted disease is increasing and can be transmitted very easily, even with oral sex only. In your case, it is possible that you might have been infected before that unprotected anal intercourse and you assume that it was that episode, and in fact your symptoms might have been those of secondary syphilis. The rash in itself might be conicidental and might not be related to syphilis anyway. The important fact here is that you contracted syphilis and I hope that you have been treated by now. In primary syphilis, it has become more common for multiple ulcers to appear, especially in male homosexual outbreaks. These symptoms of primary syphilis can appear between 9 to 90 days after infection, but the average is around 3 weeks. Typical symptoms of secondary syphilis, usually happening 6 to 12 weeks after infection, can include malaise, fever, headaches, night sweats, hair loss, nausea, as well as a macular rash all over body, but mainly on trunk, and a papular rash affecting palms and soles, as well as multiple ulcers with white/grey borders in mouth, genitalia, anus, etc. The description of your symptoms correlates much more with these, which appear in secondary syphilis. That is why I think that it is more likely that what you had was secondary syphilis, rather than primary syphilis, which you probably had previosuly (possibly in the form of a syphilitic chancre, perhaps inside the mouth that you did not even notice). This way then your symptoms would make sense.
In relation with HIV, the fact that you had a negative antibody test at 95 days, that would make the result fully conclucive and would confirm that you did not get infected with HIV. This test would have not been affected neither by the fact that you had syphilis, nor by drinking too much alcohol. You definitely do not have HIV, you can rest assured of that.
If you have already been treated for syphilis, I would strongly recommedn you having a VDRL blood test 3 months after the treatment, to ensure that this disease has been erradicated completely and that you have not had a relapse or re-infection.
Best wisehs,
Dr Jose
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