Topical Steroid

[keith965]

Dr Hook

I am a heterosexual male.  I have had significant problems moving on since i was drugged and raped.  I go for counseling and take meds.  Recently i developed a fungal infection on my leg.  My Dr prescribed Clotrimazole & betamethasone for two weeks as needed.  I applied once or twice a day.  It is a topical steroid.  It helped.  After two weeks i returned to Dr and since it was still slightly there i was given a prescription for Ketoconazole (oral).  I only took 4 pills (1 a day) total and fungal infection was gone.  Two days latter i tested negative for HIV using a rapid finger stick antibody test.   This was three months post exposure(fingering with nick and unprotected receipt of oral). My new girlfriend also tested negative.  She wanted us to get tested before intimacy.

My questions are simple:

1. Would the topical steroid affect my negative test results?

(I read one of your responses that said any theretical affect steroids might have on hiv tests is not applicable to topical steroids.  You also said they work on the infected area without much absorption)

2. Would 4 doses (pills) of ketoconazole affect my negative HIV test results?

Thanks for your time.  I continue to get better everyday.  Rape is a terrible thing.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Don't kid me or yourself.  This question is strictly for you and won't help anyone else.

HIV-2 is almost nonexistent in the US.  "Could" that happen?  Maybe.  You also could get hit by a meteorite; the odds probably are similar.

This thread is over.  Any more and the entire thread will be immediately deleted.  Also see my opening comment about excessive posting. This is your last involvement on this forum for at least a year.

[keith965]

I do have one comment / question which i think might help other forumn users in a similar situation;

If you have Cvid (i was diagnosed by immunologist) and he then orders an HIV 1 PCR RNA test, couldn't you still be infected with HIV 2?   Quest only offers a PCR RNA test for HIV 1.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm glad to hear you are obtaining mental health care.

There is no limit on the number of follow-up questions.  There are only limits on questions that have already been answered, whose answers are obvious from previous comments, that primarily reflect anxiety.

Headache is not an HIV symptom, and especially cannot be the only symptom.

[keith965]

Dr.  Handsfield

I know i am entitiled to one follow up question so here it goes;

1. I have had a pretty constant headache for about 3 weeks.  Is this symptom ALONE a sign of ARS?

(Sometimes the pain is located at the forehead, sometimes at the top of head and sometimes at bottom of head and lastly it does go away for short periods of time)

Thanks for your help( and yes i am seeing a psychiatrist twice a week)

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I saw this before replying.  Of course it makes no difference.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

From the large number of replies you have had to similar questions, you should understand that no medications have any effect on HIV testing, except for very potent, high-dose chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs.  Neither ketoconazole nor topical steroids have any effect.

Over the past several months you have had 94 posts in the various HIV related forums, all reflecting the same underlying problem.  Back in February (more than 60 posts ago) I wrote this:

"You obviously remain obsessed with HIV risk despite no risk, and despite repeated reassurance that you have not been at risk -- on this forum, the international forum, and the communitfy forum.  By definition, obsessions are irrational.  You obviously have a severe case.  I know you are frightened, and I'm not insensitive to that.  But it's in the nature of obsession that there always are 'what if' or 'yes but' questions -- i.e. continued discussion that tends to make the emotional/mental problem worse, not better.  Mental health attention is needed here.  I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.  However, this or any other online forum is not a substitute for that kind of care...."

That remains my main advice.  The sexual exposures you have described since then have been similarly low risk, and your questions all had similarly obvious answers.  As I said, I am not insensitive to the underlying problem, including a traumatic sexual experience.  But I believe it does not serve your mental health interests to continue to ask questions on this or any other MedHelp forum.  If you still are not under the care of a mental health professional, I view that as a necessity.  I'm pretty sure s/he would agree that it isn't a good idea to continue to use MedHelp as a crutch as you have been doing.  Please consider taking a 6 month holiday from MedHelp, with no new questions on any forum about HIV risks or testing.  I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.

Best wishes-- HHH, MD

[keith965]

I only took Ketoconazole for 4 days (1 pill a day). I never finished the prescription and fungus never returned)