Can developing enlarged nodules, mouth ulcers, and joint pain be suggestive of HIV or syphilis after having unprotected sex with a sex worker?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 33 years old male and had sexual intercourse around 40 days back with a sex worker (protected and orally). Around 30 days back, I started experiencing various symptoms like itching throughout the body, enlarged nodules, joint pain, mouth ulcers, red spots on the penis, etc. In addition, I had some bumps on my tongue, which disappeared after two days. After 42 days of intercourse, I tested the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen P24, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL), Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) generation, and a fourth generation test which were negative. Can I have syphilis or HIV? Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. It will depend on your immune status. Generally, syphilis takes to nine to 90 days to show the symptoms after contact. But in your case, you do not seem to be infected. But HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has a variable time period which may take years for symptoms to appear, so you can repeat after six months. If possible, try to know the STD (sexually transmitted diseases) status of your partner, which may help you at the earliest. I hope this helps. Thank you.