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Is this lymph node swelling?
Had a potential hiv exposure on December 8th. Got on PEP medication at 12 hours post exposure ( TDF + Emitracitabine + Dolutegravir ). I have been wisdom teeth pain and white greyish spot near the wisdom teeth. Also it pains sometimes. I have had wisdom teeth pain before aswell. But on 20th day of PEP i noticed this on my neck on the side of wisdom teeth pain. Is this a lymph node swelling ? Is this a hiv symptom? Can someone help me?
Answers (20)
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HIV symptoms don't come so fast after exposure. There is always an incubation period.
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Without examination no one can say its lymphnode. It may be due to wisdom teeth. Tab cefexim o200 two times after food for five to seven days.
Zerodol sp three times a day after food for five days.
Chymoral forte three times a day after food for 7 days.
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Please consult your Doctor who was giving you PEP for HIV.
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Hi.
What you are describing is most likely related to your wisdom tooth infection, not HIV.
You started PEP within 12 hours — this is excellent and very protective.
Wisdom tooth pain + white/grey spot suggests local dental infection/inflammation.
Small neck swelling on the same side is very likely a reactive lymph node due to the tooth problem.
HIV symptoms do NOT appear while on PEP, and lymph node swelling from HIV usually occurs weeks after exposure and is generalized, not localized to one side.
Next Steps
Complete the full 28 days of PEP without missing doses.
Consult a dentist for wisdom tooth evaluation.
Do HIV testing as advised
4th-gen HIV test at 6 weeks
Repeat at 3 months for confirmation.
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See a dentist for wisdom tooth evaluation, possibly needing antibiotics or extraction if infected. Follow up with your PEP provider for HIV testing (usually at 4-6 weeks and 3 months) and to rule out drug reactions.Avoid self-diagnosis; prompt care prevents complications.see an ent surgeon for further management.
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This sounds more like a dental issue than an HIV symptom, especially since you've had wisdom teeth pain before (suggesting a chronic problem like impaction or pericoronitis — inflammation around partially erupted wisdom teeth).
Common Causes (not HIV-related):
Leukoplakia or irritation: Thick white/grey patches from repeated rubbing, tobacco (if applicable), or poor oral hygiene. Often painless but can hurt if irritated.
Infection or debris: Food particles, plaque, or bacterial buildup in the gum flap around wisdom teeth can cause white spots, pain, and bad breath/taste.
Granulation tissue or healing: If there's any minor trauma/inflammation, white tissue can form as part of healing.
Oral thrush (candida): White patches that can be scraped off; more common in people with weakened immunity, dry mouth, or antibiotic use — but not specific to HIV, and rare in early stages anyway.
HIV Link? Unlikely here. Oral thrush can occur in advanced HIV (not acute), but your description (localized near wisdom teeth, with pre-existing pain) points to dental causes. ARS doesn't typically cause isolated oral spots like this.
Next Steps
See a dentist urgently
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