Hello doctor, I have potentially been exposed to HIV. 20 days back, I had protected sex with a sex worker and at some point during the intercourse the condom broke exposing my entire penis. I do not know how long this exposure took place. Three days later, I started experiencing a fever. The fever lasted up until a week approximately. I returned home and had swollen lymph nodes below my jaw on both sides. I went to my doctor the next day, and told her what happened and my worries, she prescribed me Doxycycline for the lymph nodes. Within a few days, the left lymph node had completely gone down but the right one still remains. The doctor also had me test for STDs (syphils, gonorrhea, and HIV, all negative). I am now experiencing tenderness and slight pain under my arm pits and behind my left knee, there is a pain when I walk or stretch that leg. Are these the symptoms of early HIV infection? How worried should I be about the lymph nodes? I am also experiencing intermittent tingling in my feet and hands.
Hi. I have read your query in detail. Early symptoms of HIV (flu like symptoms) usually appear after two weeks of HIV infection. The symptoms of swollen lymph nodes, fever, pain behind ears or legs can be no way attributed to the exposure you have had. These could be due to anxiety or some other cause. You can take tablet Paracetamol 500 mg as per your need. If these symptoms persist, you can visit a general physician. Also, I would suggest you to repeat fourth generation HIV after four to six weeks of exposure.