[Question #13079] ARS at 5 month despite 4th gen test negative after window, use of Prednisolone

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2 months ago
Dear Dr.HHH & Dr.Hook your are provide great service So hear below I explain my story, Although I may already know or can predict your answer but don’t want any if and but in my mind. So decided to ask you last time.Currently on 411 day of my exposure & completely fine & healthy, my age:33, male ,weight:78 kg
Day 1 – exposure with African (Kenyan) Sex worker in China during trip, Vaginal sex Condom completely broken penis head expose & I ejaculate in side her & found condom  broke at last. in encounter, I was drunk & immediately wash penis head with soap.Day 21- lab rapid 3rd gen Hiv test -non reactive. Day 27- 4th Gen HIV Duo-Eclia – non reactive
Day 35 – Start to have cough some time with phlegm & Cough last for over 2  month with phlegm(mostly after eating) Day 40- 4th Gen HIV Duo-Eclia – non reactiveDay 50 to Day 72 – I visit two doctor hear in my city they conclude I have bronchitis & give me bunch of medicine & syrup(dexamethasone), Reason I am here is Recently I see medicine bill & found I take PREDNISOLONE 5 MG/Day for approx. 3 week from Day 50 of exposure, I mostly worried due to it & reading Dr.hook answer to other that it may effect antibody of test but not antigen & dr.HHH answers to other that no medicine other then PEP effect HIV test. but HIV-2 has no antigen in test. Day 101 – lab rapid 3rd gen Hiv test -non reactive ( 31 day after last dose of 3 week Prednisolone 5 mg/day)Day 147 - 4th Gen HIV Duo-Eclia – non reactive, ( 77 day after last dose of 3 week Prednisolone 5 mg/day) then I decided to forgot exposure entirely & move with life but on day 150 all worry return.
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2 months ago
Day 150 – At afternoon I have Symptoms severe Head Ache, Fever & fill like something heavy on my face, at Night while changing cloth I see Body wide rash on My Back, Chest ,Stomach, Leg ,Shoulder & Arm then my anxiety is on the Roof & it thing I got it & I am rare case.
Day 151 – Headache gone, Fever Reduce, All face trun read & some pimple or boil on nose, ear is red,Minor Back Pain, joint Pain in wrist then go to doctor & he prescribe me some medicine, say it may be viral, I tell him my story then he say if test negative after 3 month then forgot it, but I don’t know that I consume prednisolone at that time.Day 153- Visit dermatologist he again give some medicine & say forgot exposure if negative after 3 month.Day 156 -Last test HIV 4th Gen Eclia ( 0.31 COI) – Non Reactive & VDRL RPR – Non Reactive, ( 86 day after last dose of 3 week Prednisolone 5 mg/day) but initially lab send me report mentioning Reactive (0.31 COI) , again full anxiety, I call lab & told them why they mention reactive if it is below 0.9 COI range , my was 0.31 COI, they take some time say sorry to me for miss reporting & also send me photo of Roche machine result screen mentioning “ HIVCOMPT0  0.31 COI n “,  told me that it was reporting error due to template or kind of IT error. & my report is negative/non reactive & send me new report immediately.
Day 160 – Rash gone but in Morning after waking up from bed fill difficult to walk initially & fill something running in my body
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2 months ago

Day 176 to Day 198 -  After heavy Dancing in festival start joint pain in knee & ankle, pain increase gradually passing more day at knee, ankle ,toe, wrist, knuckle, finger all gone at day198 on its own which out any treatment only toe,knuckle & finger pain last for day 250.Day 198 to Day 411( today )– no major symptoms & completely healthy now.

Question

1. Till exposure Day I didn’t have sex with my wife & postponing our baby planning, she was just come home from abroad after 12 month.

2. Did prednisolone 5mg 3 for 3 week effect my HIV-1 or HIV-2 Antibody test. 3rd gen Test Day 101 (31 day after prednisone use), 4th gen Eclia day 147 & day 156 (day 77 & day 86 after last dose of prednisolone), here in india some doctor says 6 month if immunosuppressive drug is used.

3. Does Prednisolone Delay ARS ?

4. Considering no further exposure if any kind of symptoms occur with me in future, then I need to test again or not.

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2 months ago

5. Suppose If in future during regular health check up, if my Hiv test come reactive then without drought I have to consider it false positive Right ? considering no further exposure.

6. Does I need to forgot this exposure completely & not to relate any symptoms with this if I have now or in future.

7. Does my test on day 156 is west of time & recourses, although I do it due to symptoms.

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 months ago
Welcome back the Forum although I'm sorry you felt the need.  Further, you have ignore the word limit for questions.   The encounter you describe was low risk and the (excessive) testing you have had since then PROVES that you were not infected. The amount of prednisone you took would not prevent your tests for HIV-1 or HIV-2 from being positive.  I will provide brief answers to your specific questions.

1. Till exposure Day I didn’t have sex with my wife & postponing our baby planning, she was just come home from abroad after 12 month.

This is an over reaction.  There is no medical or scientific reason related to the encounter you describe for avoiding unprotected sex with your wife.


2. Did prednisolone 5mg 3 for 3 week effect my HIV-1 or HIV-2 Antibody test. 3rd gen Test Day 101 (31 day after prednisone use), 4th gen Eclia day 147 & day 156 (day 77 & day 86 after last dose of prednisolone), here in india some doctor says 6 month if immunosuppressive drug is used.

No it did not.  You should believe your test results.


3. Does Prednisolone Delay ARS ?

No


4. Considering no further exposure if any kind of symptoms occur with me in future, then I need to test again or not.

There is no medical or scientific reason for you to test further.


5. Suppose If in future during regular health check up, if my Hiv test come reactive then without drought I have to consider it false positive Right ? considering no further exposure.

This is a meaningless question.  You have PROVEN you did not acquire HIV.  "what if" questions serve no useful purpose.


6. Does I need to forgot this exposure completely & not to relate any symptoms with this if I have now or in future.

Yes, please put this encounter behind you and move forward without concern.


7.  Yes, your day 156 test was a waste of time.  The ARS does not occur more than 30 days after an encounter.  Your symptoms were not due to HIV.

EWH


7. Does my test on day 156 is west of time & recourses, although I do it due to symptoms.

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2 months ago
Thank you Dr.Hook, Now Everything is clear but I ask few quotation so that no confusion left for me.
- Symptoms on Day150- fever,Full Body rash, head ache , Day 151 minor joint pain, fever reduce, head ache gone , Day-160- Rash gone, fill like something running in body while waking up from bad in morning then Day-176 to 198- Severe Joint pain at ankle, knee, toe, knuckle & finger.
Q-1. I understand after 30 day any symptoms is not ARS, but doesn’t it look like HIV ARS Symptoms , I am worried because I never fill this type of Symptoms in my entire Life.FYI At that time there was chikungunya & Dengue cases in my city.
- Day 156 -Last test HIV 4th Gen Eclia ( 0.31 COI) – Non Reactive & VDRL RPR – Non Reactive, ( 86 day after last dose of 3 week Prednisolone 5 mg/day) but initially lab send me report mentioning Reactive (0.31 COI) , again full anxiety, I call lab & told them why they mention reactive if it is below 0.9 COI range , my was 0.31 COI, they take some time say sorry to me for miss reporting & also send me photo of Roche machine result screen mentioning “ HIVCOMPT0  0.31 COI n “,  told me that it was reporting error due to template or kind of IT error. & my report is negative/non-reactive & send me new report immediately.
Q-2. I ask previous question No.5 due to above Reason .
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2 months ago

- As you say prednisolone 5mg for 3 week (day50 to day70), doesn’t affect my test.
Q-3. In your many replies to other user you said that it my effect Antibody, but you say now no effect, so is there any recent update on it, can you put some light on it.

Q-4.Finally yesterday after your reply  I do Unprotected intercourse with my wife happily to conceive Child, So there is not a bit chance that I can give then HIV & Syphilis due to this exposure Right?  

 God give you great health & long life.

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 months ago
Q1.  Your flu-like illness does not suggest HIV ARS.  HIV ARS occurs within 30 days of exposure.  These symptoms are due to something other than HIV
Q2.  The small amount of prednisone you took would not effect the accuracy of your test results.  YOU DO NOT HAVE HIV!!
Q3.  The effect of prednisone is not long standing and the dose you took was too low to effect your test results
Q4.  There is no chance you infected your wife by having sex with her.  Same for syphilis

EWH
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2 months ago
I think you misunderstood my last Q-2 or I miss wright as I ask question no.5 in first & question 2 in second reply due to lab miss reporting of HIV 4th gen ECLIA Result - Reactive(0.31).  [Day 156 -Last test HIV 4th Gen Eclia ( 0.31 COI) – Non Reactive & VDRL RPR – Non Reactive, but initially lab send me report mentioning Reactive (0.31 COI) , again full anxiety, I call lab & told them why they mention reactive if it is below 0.9 COI range , my was 0.31 COI, they take some time say sorry to me for miss reporting & also send me photo of Roche machine result screen mentioning “ HIVCOMPT0  0.31 COI n “,  told me that it was reporting error, template or kind of IT error. & my report is negative/non reactive & send me new report immediately.] Q-1 due to above reason  - 
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2 months ago

Q-1 Suppose If in future during regular health check up, if my Hiv test come reactive then without doubt I have to consider it false positive Right ? considering no further exposure.
Q-2 So regarding this exposure, & test I can not infect my wife & future baby with HIV & syphilis as I don't have it & never will, No matter how many time I test or no mater what symptoms I will have? 

Q-3 I take some medicine after 150 day symptom dont know which, so they also dont effect my day 156 test Right? 

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2 months ago

As I was habit to read this Forum daily , So I request you to give me some solid message or you can even scold me as father figure , so I will never return to this forum & never think about this exposure & HIV.

Many many Thanks to you sir , may god give you good health & fortune. Good bye

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 months ago
Your questions are repetitive.  I understand that you are anxious but you have PROVEN you do not have HIV and that assessment is NOT going to change.  This will be my final response. The lab made a reporting error- they told you that.  I suggest you believe them and move forward.

Q1.  The is a "but what if..." question that serves no purpose.  If you have a positive result, the laboratory will have a protocol for evaluating it.  If you do NOT have further exposures and in the unlikely circumstance you have another result, it will be falsely positive.  You do not have HIV.
Q2.  Again, as I said before, your wife is NOT at risk
Q3.  No medicine will effect the accuracy of your 150 day test result

I trust you will not return.  If you do return with further repetitive, anxiety-driven questions, the thread may be closed without a response.  Please don't worry.  EWH


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