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What could cause multiple painful body symptoms despite a negative HIV report?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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iCliniq medical review team

Published At June 20, 2023
Reviewed AtDecember 20, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have had numerous symptoms since my last brief sexual relationship. I have continuous blood blisters in my mouth and lips and inside the cheeks, feeling always tired and fatigued, red or purple spots on my hand, fingers, and arm that goes away upon pressing it but returns, and loss of hair from all over my body and around my penis. I got a fever a lot of times, ulcers in the mouth, pores everywhere on my face and back, painful things on the tongue, joint pain that never goes, continuous gases in the stomach, feeling of continuous sneezing and liquid discharge from the nose, white tongue and numbness, dryness of the mouth. The pain never goes and I am dying. My last sexual relationship was a year ago and I got 3 antibody tests for (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV 1 and 2 after one, three, and six months, and they were all negative. Please help.

Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection has a window period of 1 to 3 months during which the tests can be false negative. According to WHO (World Health Organization), all tests are considered conclusive at 12 weeks after the last high-risk exposure. As your tests are negative even beyond 12 weeks of exposure, you can be sure that you have not acquired HIV. Although your symptoms are not because of HIV, you need to be evaluated for other causes such as hematological disorders, stress-induced purpura, or thyroid deficiency. Kindly also mention the method of testing used for HIV.

Thanks and take care.

Investigations to be done

1. Complete blood picture. 2. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). 3. HBsAg (hepatitis B). 4. Anti HCV (hepatitis C virus). 5. VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory). 6. Thyroid function test. 7. CRP (c-reactive protein).

Differential diagnosis

Recurrent aphthae, Behcet's syndrome, Stress-induced.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Bahunuthula
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Bahunuthula

Dermatology

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