[Question #10801] Follow up questions

19 months ago

Hi, I’m so sorry for asking another question. But I’m very concerned. I recently got back together with my kids father around the beginning of December and we have been trying to work things out. I didn’t have sex with him until after I had a full std screening about 54 days after potential exposure in October where I experienced mono like symptoms. However, we did have unprotected sex a week or two ago, and now he is experiencing fevers and severe body aches. But is also having a productive cough. We were all recently sick over Christmas with some upper respiratory infection, he was on the mend a few days ago, but has gone drastically down hill today.

Question: what are the chances this is HIV related? Can I be 100% sure I did not transmit HIV to him due to my negative test result? Please please guide me!!!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

19 months ago

It's not clear to me whether this is the previous partner that you indicated was tested on Dec 21 with a negative result or a different partner.

The symptoms of recently acquired HIV are the same as the symptoms of flu or COVID-19, both of which are currently widespread. When persons with the symptoms you describe are tested for HIV, less than 1% turn out to have HIV. The rest had flu, mononucleosis, COVID, or one of the other common flu-like illness that most peole get from time to time. I would be VERY suprised if he has HIV. EWH

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19 months ago

Sorry, yes previous partner that tested on the 21st of December tested negative when I asked him to be tested. We ended things shortly after my mono like illness in October. But I had sex with my kids father a few weeks ago and now he’s sick. So I’m concerned that my hiv test was wrong and that I, in fact, gave it to my kids father. I’m really embarrassed even writing this and I feel so bad having such anxiety and paranoia to post such a comment. I know you get a lot of repeated questions, and I certainly don’t want to be “that” person. It’s just my fear and the symptoms I experienced that I can’t get over.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

19 months ago

You are being more concerned than you need to be. Current tests for HIV are among the most reliable tests in all of Medicine. Persons who have symptoms due to HIV always have positive tests. A negative test is strong evidence that your partner does not have HIV over and above the statistical improbability that he has infection. This simply is not a realistic concern.

Please do your best not to worry. EWH

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19 months ago

Ok, I will try not to worry. Since this is my last response I wanted to ask a few questions.

1: how long do lymph nodes stay swollen after ARS? When I got sick I had tender lymph nodes in my neck that were very big. My left side never fully went back down and my left tonsil is still enlarged and looks red. Right side is normal.

2: how common is hiv and hep c through a tattoo? My previous partner (Venezuelan) got a tattoo in chile a few years ago. Which is a concern for me.

3: is it common to get hep c through intercourse and if somebody had hep c would it delay hiv antibodies thus delay accurate HIV test results?

4: do you know how common is it for lab errors to occur when it comes to HIV testing?

5: lastly, would you recommend another HIV test from the exposure on October 4th? I’ve done multiple Oraquick and two 4th generation tests and my previous partner has done one 4th gen and I had him do an Oraquick test a week after I got really sick.

I just hope this is all anxiety and guilt related.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

19 months ago

I'm sorry you are having trouble moving forward. I think your guilt and the resulting anxiety is getting in the way. I'll answer your questions but I do not think the answers I provide will help your guilt.

As I explained, swollen lymph nodes are non-specific. After lymph nodes are swollen they can remain swollen for months or even years. The tenderness should improve unless you are repeatedly pushing on the lymph nodes and irritating them.

2: how common is hiv and hep c through a tattoo? My previous partner (Venezuelan) got a tattoo in chile a few years ago. Which is a concern for me.

Very rare.

3: is it common to get hep c through intercourse and if somebody had hep c would it delay hiv antibodies thus delay accurate HIV test results?

Hepatitis C is almost never transmitted through sexual intercourse. The only sexual transmission of hepatitis C occurs to participants in receptive rectal intercourse and even this transmission is extraordinarily rare.

4: do you know how common is it for lab errors to occur when it comes to HIV testing?

Almost never. In your case, you have had multiple negative tests. If there was an error in the testing procedure, it would not be repeated. You need to believe the tests.

I see no medical or scientific need for additional testing however, if it would help you to move forward, of course it would be fine to test again. I assure you that more tests will also show that you were not infected.

As I said above and in the past, you have proved that you do not have HIV . You need to address your guilt, not worry that the tests are wrong. EWH

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