[Question #8590] Hiv symtoms

42 months ago

Dear dr,

Hope you are doing well .

I have a question regarding hiv .

I am a 31 year old gay male .

I have never had anal sex nor given oral sex .

My exposures include kissing and receiveint oral sex .

I have recently been noticing my lymph nodes swell . One in the neck . One on my forearm and one today I noticed some pain near my ear and feel it may be a node which is coming .

Is it possible to get nodes so fast in a span of 2 to 3 days with no other symtoms ?

I have been a bit worried . Request your advice please . Thanks

Edward W. Hook M.D.

42 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum. I'll be glad to provide you with reassurance and comments. As both Dr. Handsfield and I have told you before, your activities are low and close to no risk activities for acquisition of HIV, even if your partner happened to be infected. There is NO known risk of HIV from kissing or receipt of oral sex.

As for the possible lymph node swelling that you have noticed, swelling of lymph nodes is highly non-specific and best assessed by a trained health care professional. When untrained persons detect what may be swollen lymph nodes, they may be detecting something other than lymph nodes and if the swelling is a lymph node, it may be normal or abnormal. Further, lymph nodes can swell rapidly with the onset of any number of minor infections including every day viral (non-HIV) sore throats, dental problems, skin infections etc. Lymph node swelling, if that is what you have detected in the absence of fever, severe sore throat and flu-like muscle and joint aches is NOT suggestive of HIV.

I hope this perspective is helpful. I see no reason for concern about HIV or other STIs from what you report and no need for testing of any sort. EWH

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42 months ago

Dear Dr Hook,

Thanks for your prompt response .

I don’t have any other symtoms and the only thing that got me worried was the lymph nodes .

Also I read that only lymph nodes can be swollen in asymtomatic cases of hiv and that got me very worried .

Also when I lift at the gym I can see the right part of my neck slightly swollen .

I went to my family doctor today and she looked for nodes and said that there is some superficial inflammation but the nodes aren’t swollen .

However when I feel my neck and forearm I can feel a jelly like slight swelling .

Considering I am a gay man I am very worried about stds and hence have never had anal sex or given oral sex , only due to the fact of it being risky .

Thanks again and await your revert .

Edward W. Hook M.D.

42 months ago

Thanks for your additional information. Your doctor's assessments confirm my assessment. The swelling you have detected is not problematic and does not suggest HIV or other STIs, as I said before.

Based on your reports, there is no scientific reason for concern or for testing. EWH

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42 months ago

Thanks doc . A few final questions .

I read that asymtomatic hiv can cause only lymph node se welling without any other symtoms ? Since I felt a few nodes and have pain in one armpit I am a bit worried .

However the doc checked my neck and said there is no swollen node.

Thanks again

Edward W. Hook M.D.

42 months ago

Persons with chronic, as opposed to recently acquired, HIV infection may have widespread (not localized) enlarged, nontender lymph nodes which may be detected by a trained clinician. For non-clinicians, Focusing however on detectable lymph nodes is often a source of confusion for anxious persons such as yourself since the vast majority of detectable lymph nodes are not due to HIV infection.

I believe your concern is misplaced given your history of virtually no risk exposures. As you know, with this third response, this thread is now complete.

Take care. Please trust your doctor. Please don’t worry. EWH

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