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Seroconversion Symptom Questions
Hello Doctors,
I have some questions about seroconversion symptoms:
1. Would a swollen gland be accompanied by fever? I have no fever, but a swollen painful gland in my neck. I have been checking it constantly. Do these two symptoms "go together" in seroconversion? I have no diarrhea to speak of. A loss of appetite is probably attributed to stress.
2. Would the swollen glands be systemic? If HIV seroconversion was taking place, could it affect only one gland? Or would others need to be involved? Is just one swollen gland more indicative of something localized?
3. Some pimple lie bumps appears on my cheek in a patch. Usually I have very clear skin. I applied Benzoyl Peroxide. The "zit like" bumps are gone only one day later. Replaced by red, swollen skin where the Benzoyl Peroxide was applied. Almost like it was sunburned. I know the red skin could be a result of the Benzoyl Peroxide. My question to you, for piece of mind, is would Benzoyl Peroxide reduce the bumps if it was the rash that presents in some seroconversion cases? Would the rash be a uniform red like a sunburn if the bumps were eliminated?
Thank you.
I have some questions about seroconversion symptoms:
1. Would a swollen gland be accompanied by fever? I have no fever, but a swollen painful gland in my neck. I have been checking it constantly. Do these two symptoms "go together" in seroconversion? I have no diarrhea to speak of. A loss of appetite is probably attributed to stress.
2. Would the swollen glands be systemic? If HIV seroconversion was taking place, could it affect only one gland? Or would others need to be involved? Is just one swollen gland more indicative of something localized?
3. Some pimple lie bumps appears on my cheek in a patch. Usually I have very clear skin. I applied Benzoyl Peroxide. The "zit like" bumps are gone only one day later. Replaced by red, swollen skin where the Benzoyl Peroxide was applied. Almost like it was sunburned. I know the red skin could be a result of the Benzoyl Peroxide. My question to you, for piece of mind, is would Benzoyl Peroxide reduce the bumps if it was the rash that presents in some seroconversion cases? Would the rash be a uniform red like a sunburn if the bumps were eliminated?
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Feel free to report your doctor's opinion and diagnosis, and also discuss your HIV/ARS questions with him or her.
Hi Dr, last question, is the ARS related rash raised?
I am very pale and have had splotchy skin my whole life, especially on my feet / legs.
I am very pale and have had splotchy skin my whole life, especially on my feet / legs.
Thank you, I am seeing the Dr. today at 3:15. I will ask him to look into Shingles. I appreciate everything!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Definitely not ARS.
Recurrent sores inside the mouth are normally canker sores, not herpes. However, either a new HSV infection could include sores both inside and outside. So could shingles. You don't catch singles from people who have it. Shingles comes from inside -- it's a localized recurrence of chickenpox, i.e. reactivation of a longstanding infection usually first acquired in childhood. You definitely need to see a health care provider about it, right away -- both for proper diagnosis and treatment. If it is shingles, it could become extremely painful now or in the future, called postherpetic neuralgia. The earlier the treatment, the less likelihood of signficant future pain. Do not delay; see a doctor or clinic today, for sure before the weekend.
Recurrent sores inside the mouth are normally canker sores, not herpes. However, either a new HSV infection could include sores both inside and outside. So could shingles. You don't catch singles from people who have it. Shingles comes from inside -- it's a localized recurrence of chickenpox, i.e. reactivation of a longstanding infection usually first acquired in childhood. You definitely need to see a health care provider about it, right away -- both for proper diagnosis and treatment. If it is shingles, it could become extremely painful now or in the future, called postherpetic neuralgia. The earlier the treatment, the less likelihood of signficant future pain. Do not delay; see a doctor or clinic today, for sure before the weekend.
Also, last tidbit I did not mention, even though I have mouth ulcers, and used to have them in my teen years, I have never had a sore on the outside of my mouth, on the lips.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Hi Dr.,
Thank you very much!
My wife does have confirmed genital herpes. I have never had gental symptoms, as far as I know. We have been having unprotected sex for 8 years now/
I do have two monster mouth ulcers right now (not common since teen years for me, I am 31). They are on the same side of my face as the enlarged painful gland. Does this correlate and make sense that the enlarged gland would be on the same side as the mouth ulcers?
The mouth ulcers and swollen gland are on the opposite side of my face from the rash. What does this "point to"?
My father and sister have both had singles. I also had a meal with someone who recently suffered from shingles this last weekend. I only shook hands though. He had a scar on his face from a shingle. I am not aware as to how shingles is spread, but I will do some research right now.
Thank you. I am glad, I just got a call, my regular doctor can get me in this afternoon. I will mention hsv and herpes zoster.
As this is an HIV board, I guess the summary question for the ARS component of this is:
With only one prominent swollen gland, no fever, and a rash that looks like a swollen sunburn, it is very unlikey to be ARS, right? Even in the presence of of the mouth ulcers?
Thanks!
Thank you very much!
My wife does have confirmed genital herpes. I have never had gental symptoms, as far as I know. We have been having unprotected sex for 8 years now/
I do have two monster mouth ulcers right now (not common since teen years for me, I am 31). They are on the same side of my face as the enlarged painful gland. Does this correlate and make sense that the enlarged gland would be on the same side as the mouth ulcers?
The mouth ulcers and swollen gland are on the opposite side of my face from the rash. What does this "point to"?
My father and sister have both had singles. I also had a meal with someone who recently suffered from shingles this last weekend. I only shook hands though. He had a scar on his face from a shingle. I am not aware as to how shingles is spread, but I will do some research right now.
Thank you. I am glad, I just got a call, my regular doctor can get me in this afternoon. I will mention hsv and herpes zoster.
As this is an HIV board, I guess the summary question for the ARS component of this is:
With only one prominent swollen gland, no fever, and a rash that looks like a swollen sunburn, it is very unlikey to be ARS, right? Even in the presence of of the mouth ulcers?
Thanks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I should have also mentioned herpes zoster (shingles); that's probably a more likely explanation than HSV for this type of rash in this location. Definitely see a health care provider right away.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
Most people who have symptoms of ARS/seroconversion have multiple symptoms. Fever is almost always present (80-90% of the time) and lymph node inflammation involves several areas of the body. A single enlarged node is rarely if ever seen. Diarrhea is not usually part of the picture. About half of affected people have a diffuse, uniform skin rash that doesn't itch --nothing like what you describe for the rash on your cheek.
Probably something other than HIV explains your symptoms. In any case, as we have said innumerable times on this forum, symptoms almost never are useful indicators of new HIV infection. Even when people have typical ARS symptoms, usually HIV isn't the cause -- because so many other health issues, mostly not serious, cause identical symptoms (even in people who have had potential exposures to HIV).
The patch of lesions on your cheek doesn't sound at all like HIV. However, I would wonder about herpes. Have you had cold sores in the past? Have you been potentially exposed to someone with an acute HSV infection? If the cheek rash and apparent inflamed lymph node in your neck are on the same side, they may be related. I suggest you stop applying benzoyl peroxide (or anything else) on the rash and see a health care provider ASAP. (The hurry isn't because it sounds dangerous -- only because the sooner a new rash is examined, when it is relatively new, the easier the diagnosos. And it's especially important that new herpes outbreaks be seen within a few days for accurate diagnsosis.)
I'll be interested to hear what a health professional says about the rash. In the meantime, from the information provided, I see no reason to be concerned about HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Most people who have symptoms of ARS/seroconversion have multiple symptoms. Fever is almost always present (80-90% of the time) and lymph node inflammation involves several areas of the body. A single enlarged node is rarely if ever seen. Diarrhea is not usually part of the picture. About half of affected people have a diffuse, uniform skin rash that doesn't itch --nothing like what you describe for the rash on your cheek.
Probably something other than HIV explains your symptoms. In any case, as we have said innumerable times on this forum, symptoms almost never are useful indicators of new HIV infection. Even when people have typical ARS symptoms, usually HIV isn't the cause -- because so many other health issues, mostly not serious, cause identical symptoms (even in people who have had potential exposures to HIV).
The patch of lesions on your cheek doesn't sound at all like HIV. However, I would wonder about herpes. Have you had cold sores in the past? Have you been potentially exposed to someone with an acute HSV infection? If the cheek rash and apparent inflamed lymph node in your neck are on the same side, they may be related. I suggest you stop applying benzoyl peroxide (or anything else) on the rash and see a health care provider ASAP. (The hurry isn't because it sounds dangerous -- only because the sooner a new rash is examined, when it is relatively new, the easier the diagnosos. And it's especially important that new herpes outbreaks be seen within a few days for accurate diagnsosis.)
I'll be interested to hear what a health professional says about the rash. In the meantime, from the information provided, I see no reason to be concerned about HIV.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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