[Question #13431] HIV - Cocaine Use

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1 months ago
Hello, Two weekends ago I was at a party using cocaine and sharing rolled dollars with other folks that I do not know well.  I came back and forth from the party and snorted several lines.  After about 10/11 days I had painful/swollen lymph nodes under my armpits along with fever.  Swollen lymph nodes have never happened to me.  So I went to the doctor's office and have been on antibiotics in case of some infection.  I am curious if there was any risk for HIV from this or what my symptoms could represent.  And would you suggest testing?  Thanks for your help!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
Welcome to our Forum.  Thank you for your questions.  I'll be glad to comment.  We have had a number of prior questions similar to yours in which clients are asking if HIV might be acquired through snorting cocaine with shared straws or rolled up bills.  The answer is that THEORETICALLY this is possible however I have never seen or heard of a case in which HIV was acquired in this way.

Your symptoms (fever, swollen lymph nodes) suggest a systemic flu-like viral illness which might include the ARS of HIV however the likelihood When persons with symptoms such as your are tested for HIV less than 1% have HIV, the remainder having  that this is your problem is very, very low (less than 1%).  You do not know that anyone you were with who had HIV and the symptoms you describe are far and away most often caused by other far more common, non-STI community acquired illnesses such as mononucleosis, COVID, influenza or any of a long list of other common viruses.  Antibiotics are unlikely  to help your symptoms as you have already found.  I would estimate that the likelihood that your symptoms are due to recently acquired HIV are less than 1%.

Realizing that the information I have provided will cause you concern.  To address your concern, I would suggest getting a 4th generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody test.  Because the symptoms of recently acquired HIV are due to the interaction of HIV virus with antibodies, tests are always positive in persons with symptoms.  If you test and the results are, as I anticipate, negative, this will prove that your symptoms are not due to HIV but something else.  In addition, I would urge you to stay off the internet searching on the topic of the HIV ARS and your symptoms- this misinformation there will mislead you and only add to your anxiety.  

I hope this information is helpful.  Please don't worry- just get tested to prove you do not have HIV.  EWH
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