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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety About Possible HIV Infection
Question: I was wondering if you could explain something to me. I was wondering if electrical currant could affect or "kill" the antibodies in your body? The reason why Im asking is: In Feb 2014 I had unprotected vaginal intercourse (I am a male). In July 2014 (5.5 months later) I was shocked electrically at work (high voltage, low amps. Much like a police taser or car spark plug(around 10,000volts)). At this point I became fatigued, constipated and had a loss of appetite and weight(this lasted serval months). I began to worry about a possible HIV infection. So I was tested at 5.5 months, 7 months and 8 months past possible exposure. All came back negative. The tests actually check for the Antibody, but then I became concerned that the shock may have "killed" the antibodies making them undetectable. The CDC claims 97% of people will show within the first 3 months, and in rare cases 6 months. I have surpassed all of that, I was wondering if I could consider my results conclusive?
also, as you can tell I am very high anxiety. So that most likely doesn't help any of my medical symptoms.
also, as you can tell I am very high anxiety. So that most likely doesn't help any of my medical symptoms.
Brief Answer:
Current decreases chances of infection by HIV viruses.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
Glad to be replying to your query again.
I understand that you have got an electric shock from a ?static discharge to the order of 10000 volts. Can you please be little more specific about the source of electrical current so that I know the exact nature of current which affected you?
Going by the several experiments on HIV viral material and the passage of electric current, results show that the viral particles reduce due to passage of electricity during laboratory experiments. This means that due to passage of electricity, the viral particles can get altered in structure and function at microscopic level such that they are unable to affect host cells and multiply.
From it above, it can be noted that since viral particles are reduced themselves therefore the chances of infection is also less. The role of antibody formation takes place only after sufficient viral particles have entered the cells to cause increase in viral load by multiplication.
In your case, if current flowed then that would decrease the chances of infection also. The antibodies are formed only when infection is there. So practically speaking if there is no infection then no antibody will be formed. The episode relating to passage of current has theoretically decreased chances of HIV infection.
Finally I would put it this way, the electric current has "killed" the HIV virus particles and this means no chance of infection which is reflected by absence of antibodies on testing at 6th, 7th and 8th months post exposure.
I understand you might have many questions to ask me in the above context. Please send in your doubts so that the discussion might help you understand the entire infection and antibody formation process in a better way.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Current decreases chances of infection by HIV viruses.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
Glad to be replying to your query again.
I understand that you have got an electric shock from a ?static discharge to the order of 10000 volts. Can you please be little more specific about the source of electrical current so that I know the exact nature of current which affected you?
Going by the several experiments on HIV viral material and the passage of electric current, results show that the viral particles reduce due to passage of electricity during laboratory experiments. This means that due to passage of electricity, the viral particles can get altered in structure and function at microscopic level such that they are unable to affect host cells and multiply.
From it above, it can be noted that since viral particles are reduced themselves therefore the chances of infection is also less. The role of antibody formation takes place only after sufficient viral particles have entered the cells to cause increase in viral load by multiplication.
In your case, if current flowed then that would decrease the chances of infection also. The antibodies are formed only when infection is there. So practically speaking if there is no infection then no antibody will be formed. The episode relating to passage of current has theoretically decreased chances of HIV infection.
Finally I would put it this way, the electric current has "killed" the HIV virus particles and this means no chance of infection which is reflected by absence of antibodies on testing at 6th, 7th and 8th months post exposure.
I understand you might have many questions to ask me in the above context. Please send in your doubts so that the discussion might help you understand the entire infection and antibody formation process in a better way.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
it was pretty much like a car spark plug, it was a shock for a brief second. But after 5.5 months (feb was possible exposure) and the shock was in July, wouldn't that give enough time for the Antibodies to be produced and detected? As you know there is no cure for HIV, so I was also tested 3 months after the shock, again, wouldn't my body reproduce those antibodies?
I also read that even if your viral load for HIV is low or "undetectable" that the body will still produce anti bodies and you will still test positive on an antibody test. Wouldn't this be similar?
I also read that even if your viral load for HIV is low or "undetectable" that the body will still produce anti bodies and you will still test positive on an antibody test. Wouldn't this be similar?
Brief Answer:
Undetectable HIV causing antibodies is extremely rare.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
A shock from a spark plug like device for a brief second is most likely a static shock and this is a less severe form when compared to running current electricity in household current supply.
Your virus load should be above a certain level to allow antibodies to form. If the viral antibody level is below undetectable limits then after 3 to 6 months the antibodies are sure to form in 99.99 percent of patients. This happens irrespective of the role of an electric shock to the patient.
What happens after shock is that the viral structure will get further damaged and this will prevent any infection from happening. Without an infection, antibodies will never be formed.
There is a rare case of a patient testing negative in 3 and 6 months but the antibodies showed up after 12 months. This has happened to only one patient in my knowledge and can be considered as likely as an asteroid landing on your backyard, which is extremely least likely. This is not related to the passage of electricity and this was an extreme course followed by the disease causing virus in generation of antibodies.
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Undetectable HIV causing antibodies is extremely rare.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
A shock from a spark plug like device for a brief second is most likely a static shock and this is a less severe form when compared to running current electricity in household current supply.
Your virus load should be above a certain level to allow antibodies to form. If the viral antibody level is below undetectable limits then after 3 to 6 months the antibodies are sure to form in 99.99 percent of patients. This happens irrespective of the role of an electric shock to the patient.
What happens after shock is that the viral structure will get further damaged and this will prevent any infection from happening. Without an infection, antibodies will never be formed.
There is a rare case of a patient testing negative in 3 and 6 months but the antibodies showed up after 12 months. This has happened to only one patient in my knowledge and can be considered as likely as an asteroid landing on your backyard, which is extremely least likely. This is not related to the passage of electricity and this was an extreme course followed by the disease causing virus in generation of antibodies.
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
What happens after shock is that the viral structure will get further damaged and this will prevent any infection from happening. Without an infection, antibodies will never be formed.
What about leading up to that shock? What I'm saying is my body had just about 6 months to create antibodies. So if I'm like 99.99% of the people, I would have detectable levels at that time. Now if the shock did damage the virus, even if I'm tested a few days after shock wouldn't the antibodies will be present? I have read that once you have antibodies, they are there for life. Even if your level is undetectable. It seems strange to me that once your body is over an infection the antibodies would just instantly disappear
Also, can you link me to the study that shows the virus is
What about leading up to that shock? What I'm saying is my body had just about 6 months to create antibodies. So if I'm like 99.99% of the people, I would have detectable levels at that time. Now if the shock did damage the virus, even if I'm tested a few days after shock wouldn't the antibodies will be present? I have read that once you have antibodies, they are there for life. Even if your level is undetectable. It seems strange to me that once your body is over an infection the antibodies would just instantly disappear
Also, can you link me to the study that shows the virus is
Brief Answer:
Links to study showing virus is inhibited by electricity is given below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
After the shock, the small atoms and molecular arrangement in the virus gets disturbed and this prevents further viral proliferation. Antibodies are a defensive mechanism in the body to fight any infection. So if the infection itself does not happen and viral load nil or very less then the antibodies will not be produced.
I confirm that keeping in mind that you are one in 99.99 percent people then you will never get antibodies if your test is negative. If the viral load was present then you would be having antibodies in 6 months time and the tests would have been positive. This would have persisted even after shock, even if in low concentration.
There are many types of antibodies produced by an infection. Some antibodies are produced in early stages and there are separate antibodies which are seen in later stages. There are memory cells which regulate the production of antibodies.
The antibodies are constantly replaced depending on activity and stage of disease. This is mediated by the immune system.
Two links stating the inhibition of HIV due to passage of electric current is the
following.
http://www.electroherbalism.com/Bioelectronics/OtherBioelectronics/HIVElectrotherapy.htm
http://educate-yourself.org/be/
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Links to study showing virus is inhibited by electricity is given below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
After the shock, the small atoms and molecular arrangement in the virus gets disturbed and this prevents further viral proliferation. Antibodies are a defensive mechanism in the body to fight any infection. So if the infection itself does not happen and viral load nil or very less then the antibodies will not be produced.
I confirm that keeping in mind that you are one in 99.99 percent people then you will never get antibodies if your test is negative. If the viral load was present then you would be having antibodies in 6 months time and the tests would have been positive. This would have persisted even after shock, even if in low concentration.
There are many types of antibodies produced by an infection. Some antibodies are produced in early stages and there are separate antibodies which are seen in later stages. There are memory cells which regulate the production of antibodies.
The antibodies are constantly replaced depending on activity and stage of disease. This is mediated by the immune system.
Two links stating the inhibition of HIV due to passage of electric current is the
following.
http://www.electroherbalism.com/Bioelectronics/OtherBioelectronics/HIVElectrotherapy.htm
http://educate-yourself.org/be/
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
So you would consider my results conclusive?
Brief Answer:
Your results are certainly conclusive.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
I certainly would consider your results to be conclusive. The electric shock seems to be an insignificant event in your case and best forgotten.
The only suggestions I would like to make are
1. Please get the HIV antibodies test repeated at the end of 12 months. This is for peace of mind.
2. Never have unprotected sex with strangers.
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Your results are certainly conclusive.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
I certainly would consider your results to be conclusive. The electric shock seems to be an insignificant event in your case and best forgotten.
The only suggestions I would like to make are
1. Please get the HIV antibodies test repeated at the end of 12 months. This is for peace of mind.
2. Never have unprotected sex with strangers.
Please do write back with your doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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