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STDs (Expert Forum)
Re-occuring Mild Sore Throat leads to Sever Sore Throat
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Re-occuring Mild Sore Throat leads to Sever Sore Throat
by drdivo, Sep 19, 2009 08:35PM
On July 28 I had unprotected oral sex with a man. We did not ejaculate in each other's throats. A week later I began experiencing a mild sore throat, no fever. I wrote it off to allergies or reflux both of which I suffer from. The sore throat would appear for a week, be a mild nuisance then go away leaving a tender lymph node in the right side of my mouth just under the jaw. Out of concern that this process had been repeating itself for most of August I made an appointment with my GP on Tuesday of this week (9/15). He examined my throat and proclaimed it a mild tonsillitis and prescribed me 500mg of Amoxicycilin to take twice daily. Before I even started taking the antibiotic on Tuesday I began to get chills. By the time I got home from work I was running a mild fever of 99.5. I began taking the antibiotic. My fever remained the same, mostly, sometimes going up as high as 102. My throat continued to worsen and by Friday was so swollen I could hardly speak. I returned to the doctor and was given a steroid and an antibiotic shot. I experienced little, if no reduction in swelling. My fever remains consistent at 99.5 - 100.5. I'm taking hydracordone to deal with the pain. I keep reading about infections of herpes in the throat, HIV sore throats and mono. I'm concerned that since Tuesday rather than improve I seem to get steadily worse. I plan to go back to the doctor Monday. I suppose right now I'm just really worried.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 19, 2009 11:10PM
, Sep 19, 2009 11:10PM
Welcome to the STD forum.
This doesn't sound like any of the usual STDs. Oral/throat herpes causes very severe throat pain that clears up within a couple of weeks; herpes would not cause the sort of prolonged symptoms you describe. The lack of response to antibiotics further supports the idea that this is a viral infection, allergic problem -- almost certainly not a bacterial infection. Your thought about mononucleosis is reasonable; I would have suggested it as a possibility before I saw your own comment tabout it. This is something to discuss with your doctor. And I also agree that HIV is a possibility; it would be reasonable for you to be tested for it, if not yet done. (Do you know your partner's HIV status? Of course common sense says that you should have asked before becoming involved.)
Sorry I can't be more helpful. I'll be interested to learn what the eventual diagnosis is. Good luck--
HHH, MD
This doesn't sound like any of the usual STDs. Oral/throat herpes causes very severe throat pain that clears up within a couple of weeks; herpes would not cause the sort of prolonged symptoms you describe. The lack of response to antibiotics further supports the idea that this is a viral infection, allergic problem -- almost certainly not a bacterial infection. Your thought about mononucleosis is reasonable; I would have suggested it as a possibility before I saw your own comment tabout it. This is something to discuss with your doctor. And I also agree that HIV is a possibility; it would be reasonable for you to be tested for it, if not yet done. (Do you know your partner's HIV status? Of course common sense says that you should have asked before becoming involved.)
Sorry I can't be more helpful. I'll be interested to learn what the eventual diagnosis is. Good luck--
HHH, MD
Main thing.. (and this is coming from a person who is a hypochodriac) DONT google your symptoms and read and read on diseases. It'll make you seriously crazy and your mind is a POWERFUL organ that can make you believe that you ARE experiencing certain symptoms. So do yourself that favor.. and dont look up symptoms because its counter-productive to your well being. Remember, our minds can help OR hinder us from feeling and gettin better.
Most importantly.. i know this is tuff. Its frightening and painful.. but try try try to keep your head up. Think positively and remember.. you arent the first with these symptoms and you Definately wont be the last ; ) all the best..
Users need to interpret each reply, whether by me or Dr. Hook, strictly in the context of the exact questions asked. A certain amount of generalization is OK, but whenever there seems to be a potential discrepancy in our opinions or advice, it is important to look very carefully at both discussions and be alert to differences in context.
This reply is not intended to imply an ongoing discussion. I won't have any other comments about this.