Glands Swollen, fear of exposure.

[irrationalfearperhaps]

Hi,

A week ago today I met a girl who I kissed, not for a prolonged amount of time but open mouthed.

I, at the time, had a small ulcer or bite on the inside of my cheek.

Last night I put on a hooded jumper and felt a pain under the right side of my jaw. upon feeling it noticed a swollen and quite painful gland.

I went to sleep and woke up with it quite a lot more swollen, and also two or three quite heavily swollen and sore on the left side as well.

On the Monday just gone, I had 4 dental implants inserted into my top front set of teeth.

My dentist has informed me this wouldn't be to do with the glands as the glands under the jaw don't drain from the top set of teeth?

I'm on antibiotics which I started two days before the procedure, and also anti virals as I get cold sores and wanted to avoid an outbreak while healing.

My worry, is perhaps some blood passed from mouth to mouth even though the kissing wasn't aggressive what so ever. I hope my fear is completely unfounded... I'm trying to convince myself it is rather than doing the opposite and having an absolute freak out!

I've read that swollen glands during onset of HIV are painless, is this a fact?

Also, would it be possible for my glands to have swollen purely due to the invasive procedure and trauma my mouth has suffered? some form of inflammatory response perhaps? My face is very swollen after the procedure...

Thank you for your time and help.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No change in my assessment. You are not at risk for HIV. EWH

[irrationalfearperhaps]

Hi Edward.

I don't have a sore throat.

What I have is very swollen and sore glands in my jaw, which appeared a week after I kissed this girl.

My dentist is adamant it's not related to the dental surgery I had Monday hence my worry...

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum and sorry for the delay in answering. It's been a busy day.  

Even before I discussing kissing as a risk factor for HIV, let me tell you that unless the woman you kissed was an IV drug user, the chance that she had HIV is tiny.

In addition, your sore throat is not due to HIV because it started too soon to be a manifestation of HIV.  The symptoms of early HIV, which can include sore throat typically begin 2-4 weeks following exposure, not just a week afterward.  The onset of your symptoms is much more compatible with a plain old, every day viral sore throat.  (your antiviral therapy would not prevent community acquired sore throats- the viruses that cause these are typically not effected by antiviral medications taken to prevent cold sores.


The bottom line is that kissing does not put you at risk for HIV. No risk at all, even deep kissing.  No one has EVER gotten HIV from kissing. This statement includes persons who have had recent dental work, people who have poor dental hygiene, kissing when blood is transferred from one person’s mouth to another’s and people with ulcers and sores in their mouths.  

I hope you find my comments helpful. EWH

[irrationalfearperhaps]

Hi,

I've notice doctors replying to other questions posted after I posted my initial question.

I'd really appreciate a doctors answer.

Thank you!

[irrationalfearperhaps]

will i get a response from a doctor? thanks

[negative101]

You have a higher chance of being hit by lightning.
No HIV.