What Causes Sore Throat Inspite Of Having Protected Sex?

Posted on Wed, 16 Apr 2014

Question: Hello doctor, on 24th of January I had condom protected sex with an escort (female) and after that I am deeply worried about hiv. The guilt has grasped me a lot. Well I have taken blood test on 2nd week which was negative and also after 5th week and 3 days I took a rapid blood test ... Which was negative. Today it's past 8 weeks ... I am having sore throat since yesterday evening ... It may be as I had raw olive oil on salad ... Few days back I was having mouth ulcers.. please help.

Answered by Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Relax; Counsellor; Apthous Ulcers;PCR test Detailed Answer: Hi there XXXXXXX I do hear you & empathise with your predicament. Guilt can be a cruel bed-fellow. However, you have some positives going for you that you could use going forward. Firstly, you state you had 'protected' sex. That is the sensible thing to have done. Second, the lab tests that you have done should suffice & it puts you in the clear. Third, the sore throat as you so rightly pointed out is most likely an 'incidental' finding. Personally I am biased in favour of the poor olive oil but it is very possible that your throat was undone by the salad. Mouth ulcers that you allude to are most likely on account of the guilt & stress you have undergone in the past few weeks & we refer to them as 'apthous ulcers'. A local mouth rinse /gargle & an anti-inflammatory agent like ibuprofen (provided you are not allergic or don't ail from asthma) is probably just what the occasion demands. An addition of an antibiotic like azithromycin taken as a 500mg tab once daily together with a B-complex/multivitamin capsule taken over 10 days will be additionally useful but may require a prescription from a GP or dermatologist or from the ER (emergency room). Most important is to get over the guilt & perhaps a chat with a counsellor or psychologist may be the order of the day. For completion sake & should you be one of those who prefers' an 'objective' test in lieu of a counsellor et al, please go ahead & do a PCR test for HIV mRna. This will be negative surely & you can then proceed to bury this issue once & for all. Needless to say, please do refrain from being 'escorted' in the future given that the guilt trip you experience appears worse than the physical one! Once again I for one am happy to note you had the good sense to use 'protection' from a medical stand-point & wish you continued good health! Good Nite & Good Luck! Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (34 minutes later)

I am in US and had planned to take a test after 90 days or 12 weeks. I am feeling confident after your reply and a bit of counseling. The way you said I will be negative boost me up. What more feels me bad that when I see people around my friends I feel like, they had not done anything like this and they are so happy and I have lost my dignity and character. Above all I don't want to have anything wrong with my health with this respect. I want to get married and have beautiful life and kids ahead.

Answered by Dr. Praveen Rodrigues (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Health will be fine; Sleep sound; All well!~ Detailed Answer: Hi again XXXXXXX Glad you feeling better. I am certain you will test negative again whenever you do so. Put it past you & move on. You can never tell by 'looking' at people what they may or may not have done. Focus on yourself & blot out the rest of your friends. In time, you will get married, have kids & the beautiful life ahead. Life has been kind to you. Relax & move on... Close this query & the self doubt will disappear along with it. Have a good night's sleep today. Good Luck once again & Godspeed! Dr Praveen Rodrigues MD

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D