 | ||
   | ||
Email
Glossary |
|
Worrying for nothing? Apr 9, 1997 About 14 months ago, my steady girlfriend and I began to have sex. At first it was unprotected. We then began using condoms. After a few months, she decided to go on the pill. During the time that were having sex, I never came down with any of the symptoms that would suggest acute retroviral syndrome. Four months after she had been with any other men, I asked her if she would get an HIV test. This test came back negative. Now it has been seven months since I was last involved with her and my lymph nodes in my neck and groin have swelled up. I had a white CBC done, and the doctor said that my lymphocytes were relatively high. This would suggest that my body is reacting in the way that it should. Is it possible that this I have HIV and that this is the syndrome I have read so much about? Thank you for taking the time to review my question. |
||
 |
||||
|
||||
 |
| Response from Mr. Sowadsky
 Hi. Thank you for your question. HIV testing is the only thing that will tell you whether you're infected or not. For the most accurate test result, you must wait 6 months after your last possible exposure to the virus (or anytime afterward). At 6 months, the tests are more than 99% accurate. Since you've been tested at 7 months, this should be an accurate test result, and no further testing should be necessary. If a person tests negative at the time that they are showing symptoms, that indicates that their symptoms are not AIDS related. A person first shows positive on the test (by 6 months after infection), and then later shows symptoms (an average of 10 years after infection). So if a person tests negative at the time that they're showing symptoms, that indicates that the symptoms are not AIDS related. If your symptoms persist or get worse, you need to see a physician, regardless of what you think the cause may be. Your symptoms can be due to almost anything, and it's unusual to have symptoms at 7 months after infection. Because the symptoms of HIV/AIDS looks exactly like the symptoms of many other illnesses, NOBODY can tell you whether your symptoms may be due to this syndrome or not. Only HIV testing can determine if a person has HIV or not. For more information about the symptoms of AIDS, see the question, "Symptomatic Stage". If you have any further questions, please feel free to call the Centers for Disease Control at 1.800.232.4636 (Nationwide). | ||
 Get Email Notifications When This Forum Updates or Subscribe With RSS
|
||||
|
||||
Q&A TERMS OF USE
This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.
Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Review our complete terms of use and copyright notice.
