Question:

I performed oral sex on a guy I just met and a couple of days later I got a sore area on the soft palette of my mouth which seemed to have small bumps which I cannot see but an feel with my tongue. I then got a sore throat. I went to the doctor and he gave me a Z-Pack antibiotic but this did not clear up the problems and I began suffering from malaise which is sometimes severe, I don't have an abnormal temperature but I feel as if I do with slight night sweats, mild headaches, burning tongue and throat. I can't shake this and it has been nearly 3 months now. I'm now taking another antibiotic but it also doesn't seem to be helping. Could I have contracted HIV? What tests should I ask for?

Answer provided by:

Peter Shalit, M.D.
Internal Medicine

I would recommend a full STD screen, including blood tests for syphilis, HIV and herpes, and cultures from the throat. Your symptoms do not sound like primary HIV, but who knows. Blood tests for syphilis, HIV and herpes should be accurate now since it has been three months since the exposure. If your doctor is not familiar with current STD screening guidelines, you may want to go to an STD screening clinic to have the testing done.

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