Question 1

I'm really concerned about my situation here. I was bitten by a street cat before and went through the full rabies vaccination series of 5 doses. Then, 6 months later, the same cat bit me again, and I got 3 more doses of the vaccine. Now, if this same cat bites me once more just 2 months after my last rabies shot, do I need to get vaccinated again? If so, how many doses would be necessary? Also, just to mention, the cat hasn't been vaccinated. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

After two previous bite incidents and vaccination series, if bitten again by the same unvaccinated cat, you'll likely need a booster dose. Here's a general guideline:

Consult a Doctor Immediately

1. Report the incident and previous vaccination history.
2. Discuss the need for a booster dose.

General Recommendations

1. If the previous vaccination series was completed (5 doses), a booster dose of 1-2 injections might be sufficient.
2. If the incident occurs within 2 months of the last vaccination dose, a booster dose might not be necessary.

Question 2

I'm really concerned about my HIV status after having an unprotected encounter with a sex worker. I've taken several tests: an HIV Antibody Test at 21 days and at 2 monthswhich were both negativethen a CMIA Method test at 12 weeks, and a Rapid Test at 3 months. I also did a CMIA test at 20 and 22 weeks, and all these were negative too. Are these results considered conclusive? I've been experiencing some issues like recurring colds, muscle and joint pains, and low levels of Vitamin D and B. Could these symptoms mean something? I'm just worried and would appreciate some guidance.

Accepted Answer

Based on the negative results from multiple HIV tests at various intervals, it is highly unlikely that you are HIV-positive. However, the symptoms you're experiencing, such as recurring colds, muscle and joint pain, and low vitamin levels, may indicate other underlying health issues. I recommend consulting with a healthcare provider to further investigate these symptoms and address any deficiencies.

Question 3

I'm really worried about my mom. She's a diabetic patient and recently had some pain and inflammation in her right underarm. We went to a breast center where they did a mammogram with contrast, and the report said something about necrotic right axillary lymphadenopathy, described as BIRADS 4, and suggested a biopsy. They also mentioned some masses in her right breast, probably benign, and suggested to follow up in 6 months. There was also a simple cyst in her left breast and retroareolar duct ectasia in the right one, but they said it's benign.

After that, she had a USG guided FNAC, and it came back with something called necrotising granulomatous lymphadenitis, which they said could mean TB. But we did all the TB tests like AFB smear, pus stain, X-ray, AFB stain, culture, and gene xpert, and everything was negative. They also did a biopsy by removing a lymph node, and it showed no malignancy. The doctor mentioned there were many lymph nodes, and a few had pus, so they checked for infections like HIV, HCV, and HBsAg, and those were negative too.

I'm trying to understand why she has multiple lymph nodes, some with pus, and if this is something serious. Should we be seeing a specific specialist or doing any additional tests? This is so worrying, and we're not sure what steps to take next.

Accepted Answer

consult rheumatologist  immunologist

What are the stages of infection?

The five stages of infection include the incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, and convalescence periods.

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