Question 1

I'm really worried because I had protected sex a week ago, but after four days, I started feeling unwell with fever and loose motions. Now I'm also experiencing night sweats. I ended up in the hospital, and all my tests came back fine, but I read somewhere that these can be initial symptoms of HIV. This really has me scared. Could you help me understand if I should be concerned about HIV or if there's something else going on?

Accepted Answer

It's important not to jump to conclusions without proper testing and evaluation. The symptoms you mentioned can be caused by various conditions and may not necessarily indicate HIV infection. If you are worried about HIV, the best course of action would be to get tested for HIV at a healthcare facility. In the meantime, if you are experiencing fever and loose motions, you can take over-the-counter medications like Paracetamol for fever (500mg to 1000mg every 4-6 hours as needed) and Loperamide for loose motions (2mg after the first loose stool, then 1mg after each subsequent loose stool, but do not exceed 16mg in a day) to help manage your symptoms. Make sure to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.

Question 2

I'm trying to understand the results of my recent Widal test. The report shows Salmonella typhi O at 1:160 dilutions and Salmonella typhi H at 1:140 dilutions, plus Salmonella paratyphi AH and BH both at 1:120 dilutions. The impression says it's positive, so does that mean I have a typhoid infection? Could you explain what these numbers indicate? Also, Id really appreciate some advice on what kind of diet I should be following right now.

Accepted Answer

High Creatinine Levels in Blood

_Creatinine Level 9: Indicates Severe Kidney Dysfunction_

_Proper Treatment_:

1. _Dialysis_: Recommended to remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood.
2. _Medications_: To manage underlying conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, or kidney disease.
3. _Lifestyle Changes_: Dietary modifications, fluid restriction, and avoiding nephrotoxic substances.

_Dialysis Options_:

1. _Hemodialysis (HD)_:
    - Suitable for acute kidney injury or temporary kidney failure.
    - Typically performed in a hospital or dialysis center.
2. _Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)_:
    - Suitable for patients with some residual kidney function.
    - Can be performed at home.
3. _Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)_:
    - Suitable for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

_Temporary or Permanent Dialysis_:

1. _Temporary Dialysis_: If your brother's kidney function is expected to recover, temporary dialysis (HD or PD) may be suitable.
2. _Permanent Dialysis_: If your brother's kidney function is irreversibly damaged, permanent dialysis (HD or PD) or kidney transplantation may be necessary.

Question 3

I'm getting a bit worried because a couple of months back, a street dog tried to bite me but didn't really get a good grip. It left a small wound on my thigh just with one of its teeth, and I cleaned it up with Dettol right afterward. It's been over two months now, and its almost healed  there's just a little dark spot left. Everything seemed fine, but now Im starting to get anxious about whether I could've picked up any infections or viruses from it. I see the same dog around regularly, so I can identify it if that helps. What should I do to check if Im all clear from any infections or viruses from the encounter?

Accepted Answer

Fever Persisting Despite Treatment

_Test results interpretation:_

1. _Initial tests (2132016)_:
    - Typhoid rapid test: Positive (IgM antibodies), indicating recent typhoid infection.
    - Negative results for malaria and microfilariae.
2. _Follow-up tests (2552016)_:
    - Typhoid rapid test: Negative (IgM and IgG antibodies), suggesting the infection has been cleared.

_Persisting fever:_

1. _Possible causes_:
    - Relapse or re-infection with typhoid
    - Other underlying infections (e.g., urinary tract infection, pneumonia)
    - Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions
    - Medication side effects
2. _Additional tests recommended_:
    - Blood cultures to rule out ongoing bacterial infections
    - Complete Blood Count (CBC) to assess for signs of infection or inflammation
    - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) or C-Reactive Protein (CRP) to evaluate for inflammatory conditions
    - Urine analysis and culture to rule out urinary tract infections
3. _Fever type:_
    - The persistent fever could be a low-grade fever, which is a common symptom of various conditions.

I'm a bit worried and could use some advice. So, about 20 days ago, I got bitten by a dog and went through the whole rabies vaccination process with the 4 shots. Am I okay to be intimate with my wife now?

yes

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