Is It Necessary To Go For HIV Test After Negative Results In 12 Weeks?

Posted on Sat, 21 Dec 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 21 Dec 2013 Answered on

Mon, 6 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : hello doc , i recently had an UNprotected sexual exposure with a female i hardly knew(i was drunk) .. after 2 to 3 weeks i fell wery ill had fatigue , warm body , diarreah , sore throat ,headache ,joint pains , swollen lymph nodes ... i tested for HIV (ELISA antibody) at 5weeks , 7weeks , 9.5 weeks , 10.5 weeks , and 12 weeks now which all gave negative ... i also had a master health check up at 10.5 weeks showed everything to be normal ... this has been the reason for worry ... although my doc feels theres no need to worry my symptoms have been real.. even to this day 12 weeks i have swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and body aches persistent... 1.my question is do i need to test for hiv further ? 2.also my (penis) urethra is swollen red , i do have some white discharge over it and looks like to be chlamydia .. how do i confirm it and any medications for it ??

Answered by Dr. Satyadeo Choubey (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Can try empirical antibiotics Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. Elisa for HIV is usually positive after 3 months of exposure as it takes time for the formation of antibody which is detected by the former. Also HIV manifests as disease after 8-10 years. At this juncture it will be suggestive to get an HIV testing done for your...so called sexual partner for HIV. You can repeat your testing after sometime...say a month. Now coming to second question of whitish urethral discharge..... It simply suggests urethritis which is usually of two types gonococcal and non-gonococcal usually chlamydia. Urethral swab can be sent to microbiology lab for routine microscopy, gram's staining, culture sensitivity and if required nucleic acid amplification testing. Common practice is to give an empirical antibiotic therapy covering both the gonococcus and chlamydiae. This is combination of azithromycin 1g single dose or doxycycline 100 mg for seven days plus either of inj ceftriaxone 250 mg preferably or cefixime 400 mg..If not responding can be tested further.... Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Satyadeo Choubey (47 minutes later)

so should i start taking azithromycin 1mg for a week from now ?? its hard to find an STD doc near me ... the red swelling is there from past one month and sometimes is itchy

Answered by Dr. Satyadeo Choubey (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Its single dose Detailed Answer: Thanks for follow up. Its 1 g single dose along with inj ceftriaxone 250 mg intramuscular single dose.. Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Satyadeo Choubey (1 hour later)

thanks doctor one last question , the chemist near my place has azithromycin 500mg (tri pack) will taking two dose suffice for me ?

Answered by Dr. Satyadeo Choubey (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes it will suffice Detailed Answer: Hi, Yes it will suffice...You may have some gastric discomfort after that ....but it will be milder one... Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar