[Question #12793] Follow up on Question #12747

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5 months ago
Dear Doctor.
I had posted an earlier question #12747. I was exposed because of a defective condom (a small hole in the condom while the woman was on her periods and unprotected cunnilingus with more blood on my mouth and nose).
I continued with my PEP and it’s been 15 days so far. Since yesterday I started having heavy cold, nose blockage and tiredness. I tested positive for Covid few hours back. I do not have any fever so far. 

I would like to check with you if it is ok to continue PEP while tested positive for Covid. I cannot consult my doctor because he’s out of the country and I don’t have his number.

Are there any possibility of Covid test cross reacting with HIV antibodies  at 15 days post exposure while on PEP. Just worried what if it is HIV not covid. 

Since I started PEP I mostly had bit of tiredness and everything else seemed fine so far.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum.  On this occasion I will be answering your question.  In preparing to respond I reviewed your recent interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree with all he said- your encounter was virtually no risk and like Dr. Handsfield, I would not have prescribed PEP for you.  What is done is done however.  It is certainly OK to continue PEP while you have COVID.  Neither the illness itself (COVID), nor the medication will effect things for you.  It is fine to continue PEP.  Further, there are no data to suggest that the presence of COVID will in any way change the reliability of future tests for HIV.  Should you wish to prove that your PEP has not failed and that your symptoms are due to HIV, you can test at this time.  If your symptoms were due to HIV, tests would be positive.  

Please don't worry.  EWH
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5 months ago
Dear doctor.

I tested negative today with Ora quick test. Does this test mean anything because I’m still on PEP?

I am wondering if I still need to continue with PEP for the exposure I had previously. While you and doctor handsfield suggested that my risk was not an exposure to HIV, I’m still worried because the small hole I observed post I withdrew is around the back of the penis head and mostly around my retracted foreskin. 

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
The results of your quiz test proved that your current symptoms are not due to HIV.

As long as you have taken PEP for this long, you might as well completed, particularly when considering the anxiety you continue to express. EWH.
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5 months ago
Yes doctor. I have gone ahead to finish the PEP. 

The dose given were Truvada + Isentress. My doubt is, all over the place the duration says 28 days but here the doctor suggested me to take it for 30 days because the bottle contain 30 Truvada doses and 60 Isentress doses. 
Is it fine if I follow the 28 days guidelines? 
Does it make any difference if I don’t take those 2 extra doses and stop at the 28 days mark?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
5 months ago
There is no meaningful difference in the effectiveness of PEP when taken for 28 or 30 days.  In your case, when you test in follow-up  30 days after your last dose, you will have a negative test- I am confident of this.

This thread is now complete and will be closed.  EWH
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