Severely swollen tonsil

[sassafras22]

Hello doctors,

I wrote in yesterday describing an incident where I performed oral sex on a male of unknown HIV/STD status.
I was told not to worry about the contraction of HIV because the doctor did not consider it to be a high risk episode.
I am writing today because this morning (two days after the incident) I woke up with a sore throat.
The pain was only coming from one side of my throat so I reached my finger back there and it turns out that the tonsil on the right side of my throat is severely swollen.

Can you please tell me if this can be a symptom of HIV?
And if not, are there any STDs I may have contracted that would have already caused a swollen lymph node in two days time? I am very scared.

Thank you

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the follow-up.  Goes to show that the most common explantions in fact are the most common ones!  Glad you're feeling better.  Don't skimp on the antibiotic; continue until done even if you're well before they're gone.  And congratulations on the lesson learned.  Stay safe.

[sassafras22]

Hi doctor,

Thanks again. Just to give you the update you requested... my doctor called today and confirmed the throat culture as strep. I've been on antibiotics the past few days and am feeling much better. Thank you.

And I apologize for the barrage of questions. I realize my two events in the past few months are both deemed "low risk", it's just that "low risk" is not the same as "no risk" which is why I was concerned. I've learned my lesson (twice) and I will not be engaging in anything even mildly risky ever again so no more questions from me!

Thanks again!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I saw these comments and took them into account in my reply above.

You seem to have gotten into a habit of coming to MedHelp for frequent reassurance about low risk events.  Please note that MedHelp permits no more than 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums (see Terms and Conditions) -- so no more before next August.

But feel free to return to this thread with one more brief comment to report your doctor's diagnosis of your tonsil/fever problem.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This could have been posted as a follow-up comment in your previous thread, at no cost.

Symptoms of HIV cannot start sooner than about 10 days after exposure.  Sore throat with fever, following a recent cold, is highly suggestive of strep throat.  It is rare that any STD causes sore throat.  Gonorrhea can do it, but rarely; most oral gonorrhea causes no symptoms at all -- but that's the only potential relation to the oral sex encounter.  In any case, these symptoms cannot possibly be due to HIV from that event.

Return to your doctor right away.  He was correct in not prescribing an antibiotic when you first visited for your cold, but might do so at this time.  In any case, I'm sure he will also reassure you about HIV.

HHH, MD

[sassafras22]

Thank you, doctor. One last question.... should I be concerned that only one of the two tonsils are swollen? My left one is totally fine and my right one is pretty swollen.

Thank you.

[sassafras22]

Sorry, one more thing. I have developed a sudden fever over the past few hours.
I did have a cold last week but I went to the doctor and he didn't prescribe anything since it didn't look bad and I had no fever or any symptoms besides sore throat.

I am very concerned that these rapid onset of symptoms are due to the oral sex I performed on a potentially high risk male two nights ago. Thanks.

[sassafras22]

I'm sorry, I meant to say "Are there any STDs I may have contracted that would have already caused a swollen TONSIL in two days time?