Could it be acute hiv?

[karessa83]

Ive had the same male partner(Im female) for the last year and we dont use protection...I also was diagnosed with Genital herpes around a year ago but never had any outbreaks(well not that I know of)...Around 12/10/2009, I had a herpes outbreak, took medication...then 12/24/2009, I started having ear pain, sore throat, throat tightness, throat swelling...went to dr. he said he thinks it could be ear infection...at first my body responded to antibiotics but as soon as the course was over, it came back...same symptoms but this time with nose congestion, pain in back of teeth....my dr. put me on stronger antibiotics, got better, came back again...dr. put me on third round of antibiotics...by this time, i was not responding to antibiotics....went to ENT he said its not ear infection or sinus....Also, a month after my first herpes outbreak, I had another outbreak a month later...! RIght now the only meds that help my symptoms is nasal decongestant and claritin. I took 2 HIV tests, one at end of December and one at end of January but they both came back negative...Is it possible that the seroconversion for HIV is taking longer than normal which is why the test results are coming back negative? Could this be acute HIV?

[karessa83]

Thanks alot for your assessment. I hope you're right. I just found it coincidental that all these unexplained things were happening. I will go back to EnT.

[Dr Sean Cummings]

Hi there,

Its not too unusual for upper respiratory tract infections, especially viral ones, to take a while to clear. Your ENT specialist doesn't feel the infection is in your sinuses but it is possible to have a localised infection in the area which causes similar symptoms without actually affecting the sinuses.

The herpes is obviously making you feel unwell and the repeat attacks, I can see, would worry you, but it is quite a leap to go from repeat herpes and an URTI to a possible HIV infection.

The fact that you have had two negative HIV tests I think establishes the fact that you do not have HIV.

The relief that the clarityn and also the nasal decongestant gives you suggest that the problem is centred in your upper air ways and perhaps you should go back and consult with your doctor again.

I do not think you have an undiagnosed HIV infection.

best regards, Sean