HIV possibility

[eastowest2014]

Dear Doctor,

I have following symptoms currently:
I have a dull pain red abscess (3/4 inch wide) on my left hip with no pus in it.
Swollen left groin lymph node with pain. The pain has subsided in the last three days considerably
No other places with swollen lymph nodes in the body.
No respiratory problems, eating food and getting normal stools fine.

Getting fevers (101-102.7) and chills for the past 3 days and taking ibuprofen to control the fevers. After ibuprofen is taken, the fever and other symptoms are getting better for a period of 4-5 hours. When fever again start to kick in, I experience the following:
Light headed
Weakness
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth


Went to ER yesterday and they said all reports (blood and urine) are normal and the lymph node pain may be due to abscess. They did not say what is causing my fevers and its associated symptoms. Malaria preliminary reports from ER are negative.

I had protected sex (4 times, no condom failure) with a prostitute in India two weeks back.

When I checked with ER about the possibility of HIV symptoms, the doc said, if it is HIV related, other lymph nodes will also swell. He said if other lymph nodes start to swell, then go for HIV testing.

My questions are:
What are the chances that the symptoms I am seeing are related to acute HIV symptoms.
What is causing these fevers not to go down for the past 5 days.

Thank you for your help.

Regards...

[Teak]

You never had an exposure.

[eastowest2014]

Hi Teak,

My GP gave me antibiotic for the abscess on Jan 6th and my fever went away on Jan 9th. since then I have no fever. But my armpits are sore now but no solid lumps I can feel, and the left groin lymph node pain is still there but getting better day by day.

These are the events:
12/21 - 4 times protected sex with a prostitute in India in one night.
12/30 - Fever with other symptoms started with left groin pain (abscess was present in left leg)
01/06 - Antibiotics given by GP
01/09 - Fever went away and abscess started getting better
02/01 - Both armpits pain started, but no lumps
02/15 - Armpits are still like that, abscess is gone, no fever since 01/09, left groin pain is getting better but still not back to complete normal. After I do exercise, I am feeling fatigue and weakness, which is unusual for me.

Given the fact there can be problem in condoms (Trojan I used), Do you suggest HIV testing at the end of 3 months? Whatever unusual feeling I get in my body for the last two months, I am just getting scared due to the possible risk. Please advice. Thank you.

[Teak]

1. I did not release the air at the tip of the condom in all 4 encounters. Is a break without my knowledge possible? NO

2. For my fever with chills for the past 5 days, especially when the urine and blood reports are normal, what might be the possible reasons? I doubt the abscess with dull pain and redness can cause this much suffering. BTW, I was in India for 30 days and came back two weeks back.

Whatever is going on with you has nothing to do with HIV. If you feel unwell see your doctor.

[eastowest2014]

Thank you doctor for the response. I know your time is valuable and I have only 2 specific and 2 general questions to ask, before I put my brain to ease:

Specific Ones:
1. I did not release the air at the tip of the condom in all 4 encounters. Is a break without my knowledge possible?
2. For my fever with chills for the past 5 days, especially when the urine and blood reports are normal, what might be the possible reasons? I doubt the abscess with dull pain and redness can cause this much suffering. BTW, I was in India for 30 days and came back two weeks back.

General Ones:
1. Are the lymph nodes swelling associated with acute HIV are always diffuse and painless?
2. Can lymph node swelling in acute HIV can start one by one or they all come at once?

Thank you and your team for the great service.

Best Regards...

[Teak]

Your symptoms have nothing to do with HIV, you never had an exposure.