Shingles Could I Have Acute HIV Infection

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Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

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acute HIV infection, acute retroviral syndrome

Hi there doctor,Just afew questions I'd like to ask,How common does acute HIV infection or acute retroviral syndrome occur when people are first infected with hiv?Also after possable infection,after what period of time can we rule out symptoms...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Before I say anything about your question, please remember that any symptoms that you experience that cause you concern should be checked out with your doctor. At least 80% of people recently infected with HIV will experience symptoms related to... Read more »

HIV/Shingles & Postherpetic Neuralgia

This is a complicated disease for us to understand and we are still in shock over his diagnosis. Prior to our meeting I had read that AIDS classification is when a patient has a CD4 count <200. When I heard his count was 468, I was thrilled. I...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

My responses are only through this mechanism.1. Yes.2. On appropriate HIV treatment, he can expect his viral load to become undetectable.3 and 4. Yes, and they will.5. Possible.... Read more »

Does recurring shingles signify HIV infection?

Does reccuring shingles mean that I am hiv+? we just had a baby and my wife said that she was tested and that it came back negative. We have been together for a little over 2 years. Is that too soon to show up in her or our newborn son? It seems as...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Recurring shingles is NOT necessarily a sign of HIV infection. Most patients with shingles do NOT have HIV infection. That said, HIV is more common in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative patients. I would highly recommend that you get HIV... Read more »

Oportunistic infections during hiv acute infection

I've read that CD4 count drops during hiv acute infection. Does this mean that during acute infection an individual is more prone to develop opportunistic infections? If they occur, do these opportunistic infections go away by themselves or...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

It would be extremely unusual for someone with acute HIV infection to develop an OI. CD4 counts do not usually decrease to a point that puts one at risk for OIs. Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that affects millions of people world... Read more »

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Acute HIV Infection

Posted by lafcadio, 1 Reply

I came down with text book Acute HIV Infection three weeks ago after having unsafe sex. My lymph nodes got swollen and achy, I got these little shivers running through my body, I feel like I have bleach in my veins. I'm tired and sweat constantly. I... Read more »

Acute HIV Infection Overview

Posted by Anonymous

1. Acute HIV-1 Infection
Marcus Altfeld and Bruce D. Walker

Introduction

Acute HIV-1 infection presents in 40 - 90 % of cases as a transient symptomatic illness, associated with high levels of HIV-1 replication and an expansive virus-specific immune... Read more »

Verification of Primary Acute HIV infection.

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hello,

I may have contracted HIV through an unusual encounter (not via Sex nor Drugs nor blood)in April 1999. Refer to the URL for the story.
http://bbs.thebody.com/eshare/server?action=150&board=45&article=433

Shortly, from 10 to 16 May, I... Read more »

Acute HIV Infection - Help!!

Posted by Anonymous, 7 Replies

I got fever 4 weeks after a sex worker gave me unprotected oral sex. The fever was 99F with headache, weakness, night sweats, funny sensations in my body, tingling in my hands and feet. This fever has lasted 6 weeks and aint going. In the 2nd and... Read more »

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