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Are Diarrhea, Rashes On Arm And Weight Loss Signs Of HIV Infection?
Question: For Dr. Rovena Murati.
hope you will be fine dr. i am planning to do Hiv test in next few months. but problems is the fear of hiv still there because of my symptoms. i just want to discus some of the issues or symptoms that may b i have discused before but i want these all to be in one picture so that you can easily tell me the risk of my hiv .
as per my search of internet which i have done before during all these problems and symptoms. diarrhea and weight loss is the symptom , and i have soft stool in two weeks , and i never have before such problems. doctor diagnosed as IBS after different test but that test are not showing the hiv status. what you think?
2nd i have rashes that all you know and i have sent you pictures , if you want these pics again i can send you. one rash in middle arm and one in upper arm. all these remains for some days (2 or 3) . does these related to hiv? i found these after 6 month or 7 month. i never observe such rashes.
and the most terrifying thing is muscle twitchings , which are less now but still i have , and mostly when i observe these are like pulse, and sometimes i feel little pain in arms. i have read about Peripheral neuropathy that may come in hiv. do i have Peripheral neuropathy?
weight loss is also a point , but i am still not sure about it because i have increase and decrease in last some months.
please give me your expert openion about these fears and if you need pics of my rashes that i have sent you in last months i can send you agian. these are the main factors that gives me fear .
and one more thing please consider my sexual incident was only one in my life, and some part of my penis tocuh the female part. and the same day i was having a handjob , waiting for replay
hope you will be fine dr. i am planning to do Hiv test in next few months. but problems is the fear of hiv still there because of my symptoms. i just want to discus some of the issues or symptoms that may b i have discused before but i want these all to be in one picture so that you can easily tell me the risk of my hiv .
as per my search of internet which i have done before during all these problems and symptoms. diarrhea and weight loss is the symptom , and i have soft stool in two weeks , and i never have before such problems. doctor diagnosed as IBS after different test but that test are not showing the hiv status. what you think?
2nd i have rashes that all you know and i have sent you pictures , if you want these pics again i can send you. one rash in middle arm and one in upper arm. all these remains for some days (2 or 3) . does these related to hiv? i found these after 6 month or 7 month. i never observe such rashes.
and the most terrifying thing is muscle twitchings , which are less now but still i have , and mostly when i observe these are like pulse, and sometimes i feel little pain in arms. i have read about Peripheral neuropathy that may come in hiv. do i have Peripheral neuropathy?
weight loss is also a point , but i am still not sure about it because i have increase and decrease in last some months.
please give me your expert openion about these fears and if you need pics of my rashes that i have sent you in last months i can send you agian. these are the main factors that gives me fear .
and one more thing please consider my sexual incident was only one in my life, and some part of my penis tocuh the female part. and the same day i was having a handjob , waiting for replay
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
There are no specific symptoms or signs of HIV infection.It can cause flu-like symptoms within a month or two after the virus enters the body ,with symptoms like fever,headache, diarrhea, sore throat,ulcers,cough ,swollen lymph nodes etc.
This can last up to 1-2 weeks and after that the infections doesn't cause any symptoms for years until the late stage.
So the symptoms you have been having these period ,are not related to HIV, most likely they are related to stress and anxiety of having HIV.
The episodes of soft stool in your case are very characteristic of IBS .It is not diarrhea.
As I have said you earlier ,HIV causes no specific symptoms and it is difficult to tell if a symptoms can be due to HIV because many other condition can cause such symptoms.So we can evaluate the risk of HIV only considering the episode of sexual intercourse ,if it was protected or no.
The weight loss in your case has nothing to do with HIV because it is a gradual and small weight loss and it is related with your diet.
HIV causes weight loss but in a late stage and it is very significant.
Regarding the small rashes you have had ,I have seen the pictures you have sent and they are just small skin rashes ,some due to irritation or allergy.It is nit indicative or suggestive for HIV.HIV rash typically appears as a red, flattened area on your skin, usually covered with small red bumps and it is itchy.
The muscle twitching you have are not related to peripheral neuropathy.It is true that HIV causes peripheral neuropathy and it typically present with bilateral tingling, numbness, burning pain starting in legs.
I have told you that in my opinion your risk of having contracted HIV during a protected sexual intercourse is very very low to zero ,even if some parts of penis touched vagina because to contract HIV is necessary to have fluid exchanges ,and contact skin to skin ,or skin to fluids when there is no cut or lesion on skin ,doesn't transmit the infection.
I would really suggest you to do the test ,so you can put your mind at rest and this will somehow relieve your stress and also improve your other symptoms.
Please feel free to ask for every question you have.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
There are no specific symptoms or signs of HIV infection.It can cause flu-like symptoms within a month or two after the virus enters the body ,with symptoms like fever,headache, diarrhea, sore throat,ulcers,cough ,swollen lymph nodes etc.
This can last up to 1-2 weeks and after that the infections doesn't cause any symptoms for years until the late stage.
So the symptoms you have been having these period ,are not related to HIV, most likely they are related to stress and anxiety of having HIV.
The episodes of soft stool in your case are very characteristic of IBS .It is not diarrhea.
As I have said you earlier ,HIV causes no specific symptoms and it is difficult to tell if a symptoms can be due to HIV because many other condition can cause such symptoms.So we can evaluate the risk of HIV only considering the episode of sexual intercourse ,if it was protected or no.
The weight loss in your case has nothing to do with HIV because it is a gradual and small weight loss and it is related with your diet.
HIV causes weight loss but in a late stage and it is very significant.
Regarding the small rashes you have had ,I have seen the pictures you have sent and they are just small skin rashes ,some due to irritation or allergy.It is nit indicative or suggestive for HIV.HIV rash typically appears as a red, flattened area on your skin, usually covered with small red bumps and it is itchy.
The muscle twitching you have are not related to peripheral neuropathy.It is true that HIV causes peripheral neuropathy and it typically present with bilateral tingling, numbness, burning pain starting in legs.
I have told you that in my opinion your risk of having contracted HIV during a protected sexual intercourse is very very low to zero ,even if some parts of penis touched vagina because to contract HIV is necessary to have fluid exchanges ,and contact skin to skin ,or skin to fluids when there is no cut or lesion on skin ,doesn't transmit the infection.
I would really suggest you to do the test ,so you can put your mind at rest and this will somehow relieve your stress and also improve your other symptoms.
Please feel free to ask for every question you have.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks dr for a detailed reply. now i have a question. if hiv risk is less in my case then why a large population of world having this virus? i know this question is not very much out of focus but many questions comes in my mind. 35 million people are living then it means it can spread easily?
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I know that many people are infected with HIV in world but the probability of transmitting the infection is not 100 % even in unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse .The transmission rate depends on the viral load of the infected person ,the susceptibility of the partner (if you have a genital lesion the risk is much higher).
In protected vaginal intercourse when the condom was intact ,the risk is very very low because there is no direct contact with body fluids ,which contains HIV virus.
So in your case,despite the great fear ,the risk is very very low.The test will exclude even the smallest possibility.
Take cae.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
I know that many people are infected with HIV in world but the probability of transmitting the infection is not 100 % even in unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse .The transmission rate depends on the viral load of the infected person ,the susceptibility of the partner (if you have a genital lesion the risk is much higher).
In protected vaginal intercourse when the condom was intact ,the risk is very very low because there is no direct contact with body fluids ,which contains HIV virus.
So in your case,despite the great fear ,the risk is very very low.The test will exclude even the smallest possibility.
Take cae.
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
i am agree with you. but problem is when i think about my muscle twitching s, its true i feel more when i am more stressed, but less or more i feel twitching from a long time now. and i am in a fear that this could be the neurological problem. i will do test but these things gives me fear. once i have observed a little jerks for one or two days in my arm and i told you that time. that were small but i was feared a lot. my be all of these things are due to anxiety because a fear is always here.i know no body can calculate the risk which i have other then test. thanks for reply
Brief Answer:
detailed below
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
You are welcome.
I strongly suggest to do the test so you can exclude any possibility of HIV infection.
The muscle twitchings are not related to peripheral neurophathy and it is not a sign of HIV.
In my opinion your muscle twitchings are only due to anxiety but if they continue to cause you a great discomfort you consider to consult a neurologist for a detailed evaluation of the muscles and nerves.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
You are welcome.
I strongly suggest to do the test so you can exclude any possibility of HIV infection.
The muscle twitchings are not related to peripheral neurophathy and it is not a sign of HIV.
In my opinion your muscle twitchings are only due to anxiety but if they continue to cause you a great discomfort you consider to consult a neurologist for a detailed evaluation of the muscles and nerves.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
one thing i have to mention that my muscle twitching are very much , means not as much as it remains all the times. i observse sometimes but these are present from a long time. from the day i first time have a stomach upset . i think now its near about 10 month. sometimes i dont have these twitchings, but the unique thing that i want to know when i have , its like not a single twitch its like some pulse type ,means it will twitch two or 3 times, like heart beat , not in a specific part of body, but mostly i have in my arms , between wrist and elbow area.some times i feel pain in elbow muscles,. i can tell clearly that i dont have too much twitching that i all the day think about it, but when it comes , i start thinking and it gives me stress. i know i am in stress even i think i am not thinking but still fear i here somewhere in my mind.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
The sensations you are feeling ,like pulsation are very typical for benign fasciculations ,which are uncontrolled muscle muscle contraction.
They can happen for no reason and are harmless.These type of muscle twitching are induced from anxiety.
In my opinion you have nothing to worry about.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
The sensations you are feeling ,like pulsation are very typical for benign fasciculations ,which are uncontrolled muscle muscle contraction.
They can happen for no reason and are harmless.These type of muscle twitching are induced from anxiety.
In my opinion you have nothing to worry about.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks doctor
Brief Answer:
you are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
You are very welcome.
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena
you are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
You are very welcome.
I wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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