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STDs (Expert Forum)
HIV scare...
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Warts, Yeast Infection.All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
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HIV scare...
by NickSloans, Feb 22, 2005 12:00AM
Hi everyone...
Im a healthy 19 yr old male with no known diseases or handicaps.
About 7 weeks ago I had unprotected vaginal sex with a friend of mine. Neither of us ejaculated, and we did not perform oral or anal sex on each other. The penetration lasted for about 10-15 minutes.I have not had anal or vaginal sex since then. But the girl has been known to be rather promiscuous. Even she admits that she is promiscuous.
Since then I have been healthy and normal, but about a week ago my scrotum began to burn and turned red. I went to the doctor and he said I had Gonohrea (sp). He gave me some meds and now its is cleared up. But the the very next day I began to cough. Then I had Flu-like symptoms (sore lungs, low grade fever (99.3),hard to breath because of sore lungs.) I didnt have and HIV worries until I read about the symptoms online. I then had malaise and couldnt sleep well.
I went to the doctor and he said it was an upper respiratory infection. And gave me meds. The meds seem to be working just fine, the symptoms are virtually gone. But Im worried about my lymph nodes. They arent swollen or red, but I think I have pains in them every now and then. This could be nothing and me just being worrisome, but Id like to hear from someone more educated on this subject than I. Is this the right timeframe? Should I believe her when she says she has had blood tests since then that came out negative?
Also, it is winter and Im outside alot, so could this all be coincidence?
Thank you for any help!
Im a healthy 19 yr old male with no known diseases or handicaps.
About 7 weeks ago I had unprotected vaginal sex with a friend of mine. Neither of us ejaculated, and we did not perform oral or anal sex on each other. The penetration lasted for about 10-15 minutes.I have not had anal or vaginal sex since then. But the girl has been known to be rather promiscuous. Even she admits that she is promiscuous.
Since then I have been healthy and normal, but about a week ago my scrotum began to burn and turned red. I went to the doctor and he said I had Gonohrea (sp). He gave me some meds and now its is cleared up. But the the very next day I began to cough. Then I had Flu-like symptoms (sore lungs, low grade fever (99.3),hard to breath because of sore lungs.) I didnt have and HIV worries until I read about the symptoms online. I then had malaise and couldnt sleep well.
I went to the doctor and he said it was an upper respiratory infection. And gave me meds. The meds seem to be working just fine, the symptoms are virtually gone. But Im worried about my lymph nodes. They arent swollen or red, but I think I have pains in them every now and then. This could be nothing and me just being worrisome, but Id like to hear from someone more educated on this subject than I. Is this the right timeframe? Should I believe her when she says she has had blood tests since then that came out negative?
Also, it is winter and Im outside alot, so could this all be coincidence?
Thank you for any help!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 22, 2005 12:00AM
, Feb 22, 2005 12:00AM
You don't have HIV; put that to rest and don't lose sleep over it. (But being tested and having a negative result probably will reassure you more than I can--so get tested and you'll sleep better.)
On to the real problem. How certain was your doctor about gonorrhea? Did he do a test for it or only examine you? If he tested, do you know for sure it was positive? Gonorrhea almost always causes symptoms within 4-5 days and 7 weeks is almost unheard of. Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), often due to chlamydia, can show up late, so that's another possibility.
There is a virus called adenovirus type 19 that causes both upper respiratory infections and urethritis (inflammation of the urine passage). It is not sexually transmitted or acquired; it's caught just like any other cold, through the air or by hand-to-hand contact with someone else with a cold. Adenovirus infections often cause lymphadenopathy (swollen glands) of the neck or under the jaw. Like any cold, there is no treatment except to use OTC products to ease cough, congestion, etc; the problem will go away on its own over 7-10 days.
So I can't say whether you have a single infection (especially adenovirus type 19) causing both urethritis and your respiratory infection, or 2 separate but coincidental problems. Check with your doctor about the gonorrhea diagnosis; s/he should have tested for both gonorrhea and chlamydia. Get an HIV test if you're still nervous about that possibility.
Finally, if gonorrhea or chlamydia IS confirmed, make sure your partner gets examined and treated.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
On to the real problem. How certain was your doctor about gonorrhea? Did he do a test for it or only examine you? If he tested, do you know for sure it was positive? Gonorrhea almost always causes symptoms within 4-5 days and 7 weeks is almost unheard of. Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU), often due to chlamydia, can show up late, so that's another possibility.
There is a virus called adenovirus type 19 that causes both upper respiratory infections and urethritis (inflammation of the urine passage). It is not sexually transmitted or acquired; it's caught just like any other cold, through the air or by hand-to-hand contact with someone else with a cold. Adenovirus infections often cause lymphadenopathy (swollen glands) of the neck or under the jaw. Like any cold, there is no treatment except to use OTC products to ease cough, congestion, etc; the problem will go away on its own over 7-10 days.
So I can't say whether you have a single infection (especially adenovirus type 19) causing both urethritis and your respiratory infection, or 2 separate but coincidental problems. Check with your doctor about the gonorrhea diagnosis; s/he should have tested for both gonorrhea and chlamydia. Get an HIV test if you're still nervous about that possibility.
Finally, if gonorrhea or chlamydia IS confirmed, make sure your partner gets examined and treated.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I also forgot to mention that I received oral sex from an aquaintance about 2.5 weeks ago. She performed oral sex on me and I ejaculated. I did not perform anything on her and our genitals never touched. A condom was not used. I apologize for not mentioning this, but I was somewhat drunk at the time and it slipped my mind, it was very quick.
The oral sex exposure is the best bet for your urethritis. 2+ weeks is long for gonorrhea, but possible; or you might have nonchlamydial NGU. It sounds like definitive tests for gonorrhea and possibly chlamydia will be available in the next couple of days, assuming they tested either the swab specimen or your urine.
HHH, MD