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HIV Prevention (Expert Forum)
Persistant Generalized enlarged lymph nodes (3 months) - HIV?
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Persistant Generalized enlarged lymph nodes (3 months) - HIV?
by chrislarson310, Jul 04, 2009 08:32PM
Happy 4th of July.
Im a 28y male. About 3 months ago I had a sore throat (lasted 2 days), low grade fever (99.5) for only 1 day, and an enlarged lymph node in the side of my neck (1 inch), 2 enlarged supraclavicular nodes (about 1-1.5cm), 2 enlarged armpit nodes (one under each arm), and elevated liver enzymes (ALT 160). I took a mono test which came out positive. So my dr said I had mono. However its been 3 months and the lymph node in the side of my neck has reduced in size to about 1 cm, but my 2 supraclavicular nodes are still 1-1.5cm in size as well as both my armpit nodes.
My sexual history: 2 sexual partners (female both of which took either an ELISA or EIA HIV test which came out negative). Other than those 2 partners I have gone to several massage parlors and ONLY received handjobs - where I throughly inspect the ladies hands for cuts.
I have read several times that you CANNOT get HIV from handjobs and since my 2 partners are HIV negative I cannot see anyway I could have HIV. However I have read that persistant generalized enlargment of lymphnodes in 2 or more extragunial sites that have lasted longer than 3 months is a sign of HIV and could not find any other infections that would have kept my nodes enlarged for this long (over 3 consistant months). So I have convinced myself that maybe one of the ladies had infected semen from another guy on her hand while she gave me a handjob or one of my ex girlfriends had a false negative test. Additionally I have read that mono tests can be false positive due to HIV (http://www.hopkins-hivguide.org/pathogen/viruses/epstein-barr_virus.html) Im very worried but I keep thinking theres NO WAY!
1. Do you think my generalized lymphnode enlargment lasting over 3 months is associated with HIV? Could these nodes still be enlarged due to mono even though its been 3 months and I'm not feeling sick or tired?
2. Have you heard of false positive mono tests due to HIV?
3. Are HIV false negatives very rare?
Im a 28y male. About 3 months ago I had a sore throat (lasted 2 days), low grade fever (99.5) for only 1 day, and an enlarged lymph node in the side of my neck (1 inch), 2 enlarged supraclavicular nodes (about 1-1.5cm), 2 enlarged armpit nodes (one under each arm), and elevated liver enzymes (ALT 160). I took a mono test which came out positive. So my dr said I had mono. However its been 3 months and the lymph node in the side of my neck has reduced in size to about 1 cm, but my 2 supraclavicular nodes are still 1-1.5cm in size as well as both my armpit nodes.
My sexual history: 2 sexual partners (female both of which took either an ELISA or EIA HIV test which came out negative). Other than those 2 partners I have gone to several massage parlors and ONLY received handjobs - where I throughly inspect the ladies hands for cuts.
I have read several times that you CANNOT get HIV from handjobs and since my 2 partners are HIV negative I cannot see anyway I could have HIV. However I have read that persistant generalized enlargment of lymphnodes in 2 or more extragunial sites that have lasted longer than 3 months is a sign of HIV and could not find any other infections that would have kept my nodes enlarged for this long (over 3 consistant months). So I have convinced myself that maybe one of the ladies had infected semen from another guy on her hand while she gave me a handjob or one of my ex girlfriends had a false negative test. Additionally I have read that mono tests can be false positive due to HIV (http://www.hopkins-hivguide.org/pathogen/viruses/epstein-barr_virus.html) Im very worried but I keep thinking theres NO WAY!
1. Do you think my generalized lymphnode enlargment lasting over 3 months is associated with HIV? Could these nodes still be enlarged due to mono even though its been 3 months and I'm not feeling sick or tired?
2. Have you heard of false positive mono tests due to HIV?
3. Are HIV false negatives very rare?
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jul 05, 2009 07:23AM
, Jul 05, 2009 07:23AM
Your concerns about HIV are unfounded. Your exposures are low risk, your partners do not have HIV and HIV is not transmitted by masturbation. To elaborate a bit in relationship to your specific questions:
1. There are many other illnesses which can cause lymph node swelling and once nodes swell they may take a long time to resolve. Swollen lymph nodes are a non-specific response to any number of stimuli including infections due to bacteria and viruses, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease. Of all persons with swollen lymph nodes only a tiny proportion of them have HIV. Among the most common places for lymph node swelling to be present are the neck and arm pits, thus, if your do have swollen nodes at these locations it may not be pathological at all. If you are concerned about swollen lymph nodes, the proper place to get evaluated is with a good internal medicine physician.
2. Mono tests are rather non-specific and may occasionally be positive in persons who do not have mono. In addition, mono is a spectrum of disease. I suppose HIV could cause false positive mono tests but in your situation I would not be concerned. You have no reason to think you have HIV.
3. HIV false negatives are extraordinarily rare and your partners, as heterosexual women are at low risk for HIV.
You really have no reason to worry about HIV. I do note however that you do not mention your own HIV tests. If you have not had one, you should for the peace of mind that I hope it will give you. Hope this helps. EWH
1. There are many other illnesses which can cause lymph node swelling and once nodes swell they may take a long time to resolve. Swollen lymph nodes are a non-specific response to any number of stimuli including infections due to bacteria and viruses, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease. Of all persons with swollen lymph nodes only a tiny proportion of them have HIV. Among the most common places for lymph node swelling to be present are the neck and arm pits, thus, if your do have swollen nodes at these locations it may not be pathological at all. If you are concerned about swollen lymph nodes, the proper place to get evaluated is with a good internal medicine physician.
2. Mono tests are rather non-specific and may occasionally be positive in persons who do not have mono. In addition, mono is a spectrum of disease. I suppose HIV could cause false positive mono tests but in your situation I would not be concerned. You have no reason to think you have HIV.
3. HIV false negatives are extraordinarily rare and your partners, as heterosexual women are at low risk for HIV.
You really have no reason to worry about HIV. I do note however that you do not mention your own HIV tests. If you have not had one, you should for the peace of mind that I hope it will give you. Hope this helps. EWH
I called my family doctor today to ask him about my lymph nodes still being enlarged for 3 months and he said to wait 3 months more to see what happens.
Could mono cause lymph nodes in the supraclavicular and armpits to be enlarged for over 4-5 months ? You said that once they swell it could take awhile to return to normal, but 4-5 months?
And as a side note all my nodes are not exceptionally large, but are still abnormal - maybe approx. 1-2 cm.