Question 1

I'm a bit concerned about my HIV test results. They came back non-reactive after 140 days, but I'm wondering if that's conclusive. Is there a specific test that's considered the best for detecting HIV? Also, could you help me understand the window period for HIV detection?

Accepted Answer

The window period of HIV can be any where between a month and a decade. However, you can undergo an ELISA test or Western blot test which are mostly accurate. If both these tests are non reactive, there are high chances that you are not HIV patient. However, you can still undergo a routine test every six months or once a year just to be sure

Question 2

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

Question 3

I'm really worried about my mother. She's had this swelling on her neck for about four months now, and while it doesn't hurt or irritate her, it's gotten bigger. We've done a bunch of tests, including something called an FNAC, and found out it's a gland from TB. Shes been on TB treatment for three months, but she's started feeling pain because now there's pus in that node. The doctor has already removed the pus twice this month, but the swelling doesn't seem to be getting any better, and now she has a fever that goes up to between 100 and 101 in the evening. Plus, she's lost her appetite and only manages to eat 1 or 2 chapatis per meal. I'm starting to wonder if she might need surgery to get rid of the pus completely. If that's the case, what kind of procedure would it involve?

Accepted Answer

take food with increased protein and increase the multuvitamin content

Can you get STD from kissing?

You can't get an STI from kissing, but you can get or pass on a cold sore from kissing

More Infectious Disease Health Queries

I'm a bit concerned about my HIV test results. They came back non-reactive after 140 days, but I'm wondering if that's conclusive. Is there a specific test that's considered the best for detecting HIV? Also, could you help me understand the window period for HIV detection?

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