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Are Mild Stomach Bloating And Swollen Vein Signs Of HIV?
Question: Hello Dr., I had insertive anal sex with hiv-positive person (who said he was undetectable) on Nov 25 (8 weeks before). I started PEP at 13 hour interval and completed it with full adherence. I did a 4th generation ag/ab test on 14th day, RNA by PCR test on 22nd day, ELISA ab test on 28th day, and again 4th generation ag/ab test on 34th day which were all negative. Do you think my result is conclusive? Now being at the 4th week of exposure, I feel mild stomach bloating and had a one time watery bowel movement. I am taking Imodium for that now. I also have slight swelling of veins behind my jaw (the exact location pointed out in the picture) for more than a month now. It is not the typical lymph node swelling which looks like bean and hard, it rather is like a vein has swollen. It is more on left side and less on the right and is not tender. I wonder if it may be related to ARS or due to some oral infection. I have some irritation on my tongue since that day. Do I need to go for further HIV testing or what I have already done is conclusive. Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
You are free from HIV 1 infection. Symptoms are not specific to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again to HCM
Thanks for posting your query.
Your partner is having undetectable viral load. So chances of getting HIV infection is remote.
You had PEP started by 13 hours following the exposure and sucessfully completed the same with full adherance. It reduces the chance of infection considerably or aborts the infection totally.
Your nonreactive PCR test on 22nd day and negative 4th generation test on 34th day after the exposure clearly ruled out HIV 1 infection.
HIV 2 infection is vert rare (less than 0.5%). It can be detected by the antibody detection part of the test which will become reactive only after the window period. As you had already PEP, the chances of window period getting extended also be there.
As per the guidlines for PEP, one has to remain in the follow up for 6 months with repeated tests (every month for 3 months and every three months up to 6 months) before that he/she declared is free from HIV.
Regarding your symptoms they are not specific for HIV. Anybody can get these symptoms.
I am not able to make out any swelling in the picture sent by you. Even if there is a lymph node swelling it could not necessariliy being due to HIV.
Consult your physician for your symptoms and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
You are free from HIV 1 infection. Symptoms are not specific to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again to HCM
Thanks for posting your query.
Your partner is having undetectable viral load. So chances of getting HIV infection is remote.
You had PEP started by 13 hours following the exposure and sucessfully completed the same with full adherance. It reduces the chance of infection considerably or aborts the infection totally.
Your nonreactive PCR test on 22nd day and negative 4th generation test on 34th day after the exposure clearly ruled out HIV 1 infection.
HIV 2 infection is vert rare (less than 0.5%). It can be detected by the antibody detection part of the test which will become reactive only after the window period. As you had already PEP, the chances of window period getting extended also be there.
As per the guidlines for PEP, one has to remain in the follow up for 6 months with repeated tests (every month for 3 months and every three months up to 6 months) before that he/she declared is free from HIV.
Regarding your symptoms they are not specific for HIV. Anybody can get these symptoms.
I am not able to make out any swelling in the picture sent by you. Even if there is a lymph node swelling it could not necessariliy being due to HIV.
Consult your physician for your symptoms and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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