Swollen Lymph Glands Could I Have Acute HIV Infection

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Acute HIV Infection

What Is Acute HIV Infection? The amount of HIV in the blood gets very high within a few days or weeks after HIV infection. Some people get a flu-like illness. This first stage of HIV disease is called "acute HIV infection" or "primary HIV infection." About half of the people who get infected don't notice anything. Symptoms generally occur within 2 to 4 weeks. The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, and rash. Others include headache,...

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What exactly do "swollen glands" mean? How soon after a new HIV infection can swollen glands appear?

There is a lot of talk about how "swollen glands" are common in HIV'ers at ANY time during infection, even during the asymptomatic period and AFTER acute retroviral syndrome . Is this true?Does this mean that it is possible or...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

I've addressed the issue of lymph nodes on MANY recent responses so I don't want to repeat all the response here.I'll address your two questions1) How soon after HIV infection can swollen nodes appear? Lymph nodes can swell very soon... Read more »

If you have swollen glands and are HIV negative, does this mean that you don't have HIV infection?

I have a question about swollen glands. The presence of swollen glands indicates that the body is fighting against an infection. Therefore if a man has a swollen glands and his HIV test is negative, then does this mean the swollen glands are due...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Enlarged Lymph nodes (also known as swollen glands) are indeed often nothing more than the body's attempt to fight off an infection. If you are HIV negative, then it is unlikely that you have a chronic HIV infection. However, right after a... Read more »

Swollen lymph glands during PEP

Dr Bob, can you help me PLEASE? I am now 34 yrs old. In May 2008 I had receptive anal sex during which time the condom broke. I always use condoms. I attended a clinic the following day and started PEP about 14 hours afterwards for 28 days. My...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello Mark,Unfortunately, I cannot diagnose the cause of your symptoms over the Internet, as I do not have access to your complete medical file and all of your laboratory test results or have the benefit of a physical examination. However, with... Read more »

No fever, sore throat but swollen glands

Hi Doctor KullWould swollen lymph glands (under arms, groin and neck) tingling in hands and feet and a raised rash on the insides of my elbows constitue ARS (3 weeks after unprotected insertive anal sex) Lymph glands still up at 9 weeks, tingling in...

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

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Trying to determine your HIV status based on symptoms you are experiencing is unwise, anxiety provoking, and unreliable. Recent HIV infection (acute HIV infection, acute retroviral syndrome) should only be considered if ALL of the following are... Read more »

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How can I identify a swollen gland (armpit)?!!!

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I had an exposure 1.5 months ago with a guy that knew he was HIV + but didnt tell me anything until yesterday... I did not use a condom... I think I may have a little swelling in my armpits... Does anybody know how to identify if this is happening?... Read more »

Swollen Glands

Posted by Sam34yo, 7 Replies

I contracted HIV mid-June (had I thought there was a chance I'd contracted HIV I would have taken PEP - damn!). Anyway, my viral load hasn't come down as much as I had hoped. Five months on an my viral load is 290,000 copies/ml. My CD4 is fine - in... Read more »

SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I READ SOMEWHERE ON THE WEB THAT IF YOU HAVE LYMPH NODES THAT ARE SWOLLEN FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS YOU SHOULD GET TESTED FOR HIV. IS THIS TRUE? HAS ANYONE ELSE READ OR HEARD ABOUT THIS? I THOUGHT LYMPH NODES AND THE REST OF THE SYPTOMS WENT AWAY... Read more »

Swollen Glands

Posted by Anonymous, 5 Replies

In early HIV infection, when the lymph nodes are swollen, could it be just one in the neck swollen or would it usually affect the lymph nodes all over the body? Any HIVers have experience with this? Read more »

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