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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Elisa test after 2 months of exposure
by Edward9, Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
Dear Doctor
I live in Mexico city (I live in a undevelopment country)so I think I could be at risk of catch HIV because on january 15th,2007 I had vaginal sex and oral sex with condom both of them with a sex worker, after a week I experienced some pain and discomfort in my testicles and penis , my urologist (I am suffering form a possible urethra narrowing, my bladder retains almost 30 % of urine) prescribed me nitrofurantoine three times daily for 8 days, symptoms relieved but almosta same time I developed kind of tonsilitis with some yellow patches on them, a general physician prescribed me clarithromicine for 10 days (I had only 1 day low fever 37 C)the problems relieved, the general doctor send me to take lab tests and my CBC was normal , my White blood cells (WBC) was 5.89 (the range is between 4.5 to 10 miles cells /microlitre) but then I developed a itchy skin and the some red, round and and not too flat bumps in my arms and just 2 near my ribs, I went to see a dermatologist( march 15th, 2007) she prescribed me levocetirizine to relieve the itchy skin and send me to the lab for more test, this time my WBC was 5.77 and the ELISA test was negative but I still have muscle aches and headaches from time to time.
The 3 doctor told me that the muscle aches in my upper torso and head and jaws can be as a result of too much stress ans well the itchy skin and bumps, but I am still not really sure, I also have an ulcer in my internal jaw cavity but the general physician told me (I have hiatal hernia and possible reflux), that it could be an erosion of the gastric acid, so my questions are:
1.- Is the ELISA test reliable after 2 months (8 weeks)of possible exposure? In Mexico we don't have yet oral quick or antigen p24 tests
2.- Are leukopenia and thrombocitopenia possible signs of HIV acute infection?
3.- Are my WBC count reliable to discard a possible HIV infection?
Thanks a lot for your advice
I live in Mexico city (I live in a undevelopment country)so I think I could be at risk of catch HIV because on january 15th,2007 I had vaginal sex and oral sex with condom both of them with a sex worker, after a week I experienced some pain and discomfort in my testicles and penis , my urologist (I am suffering form a possible urethra narrowing, my bladder retains almost 30 % of urine) prescribed me nitrofurantoine three times daily for 8 days, symptoms relieved but almosta same time I developed kind of tonsilitis with some yellow patches on them, a general physician prescribed me clarithromicine for 10 days (I had only 1 day low fever 37 C)the problems relieved, the general doctor send me to take lab tests and my CBC was normal , my White blood cells (WBC) was 5.89 (the range is between 4.5 to 10 miles cells /microlitre) but then I developed a itchy skin and the some red, round and and not too flat bumps in my arms and just 2 near my ribs, I went to see a dermatologist( march 15th, 2007) she prescribed me levocetirizine to relieve the itchy skin and send me to the lab for more test, this time my WBC was 5.77 and the ELISA test was negative but I still have muscle aches and headaches from time to time.
The 3 doctor told me that the muscle aches in my upper torso and head and jaws can be as a result of too much stress ans well the itchy skin and bumps, but I am still not really sure, I also have an ulcer in my internal jaw cavity but the general physician told me (I have hiatal hernia and possible reflux), that it could be an erosion of the gastric acid, so my questions are:
1.- Is the ELISA test reliable after 2 months (8 weeks)of possible exposure? In Mexico we don't have yet oral quick or antigen p24 tests
2.- Are leukopenia and thrombocitopenia possible signs of HIV acute infection?
3.- Are my WBC count reliable to discard a possible HIV infection?
Thanks a lot for your advice
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2007 12:00AM
I stopped reading your question after the first 2 sentences, when you said your exposure was condom-protected. That being the case, there is no risk of HIV and you do not need testing, regardless of what symptoms you might have or what other information you might provide in the rest of your question.
OK, now I have read the rest of your comments and questions. Guess what? Nothing changes my initial response. The direct answers to your questions are: 1) Yes, a negative HIV ELISA test always is reliable 2 months after the last potential exposure. You don't need P24 or any other testing. 2) Irrelevant: your WBC counts were normal, so you don't have leukopenia; and I don't know where the platelet count questions comes from since you don't report that result. In any case, those abnormalities are not particularly indicatative of HIV. 3. No, your WBC count is not reliable evidence against HIV infection. But your negativ HIV test is.
Relax, you don't have HIV. Keep using condoms for casusal sex, but otherwise don't worry about HIV.
No 'yes but' or 'what if' follow-up questions, please. I won't have any further replies. You can search the forum threads for innumerable discussions of the the same issues.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
OK, now I have read the rest of your comments and questions. Guess what? Nothing changes my initial response. The direct answers to your questions are: 1) Yes, a negative HIV ELISA test always is reliable 2 months after the last potential exposure. You don't need P24 or any other testing. 2) Irrelevant: your WBC counts were normal, so you don't have leukopenia; and I don't know where the platelet count questions comes from since you don't report that result. In any case, those abnormalities are not particularly indicatative of HIV. 3. No, your WBC count is not reliable evidence against HIV infection. But your negativ HIV test is.
Relax, you don't have HIV. Keep using condoms for casusal sex, but otherwise don't worry about HIV.
No 'yes but' or 'what if' follow-up questions, please. I won't have any further replies. You can search the forum threads for innumerable discussions of the the same issues.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
It doesn't really matter when you tested, nonetheless your 8 week negative is as close to 100% as makes no odds.
I'd let this go. I empathize with you - I'm having trouble letting go due to lingering symptoms, but that's the realm of mental health. HIV ain't the problem in either case!:)