Expert: John Thai, M.D. - 4/3/2007

Question
Hi

Can i get shingle 9 weeks after possible hiv exposure or is it too early for it?
many thanks
alex pewter


Answer
To Alex,

Shingles and HIV are two different viral infections. Shingles is due to a reactivation of the herpetic infection (varicella-zoster virus - vzv). HIV is due to a RNA virus. There is no timeframe as to when shingles may occur in an HIV patient. Since I am assuming you don't know your HIV status, it is recommended that you get checked. There's rapid HIV tests that will give you results in 20 minutes. It is free at public health clinics in the US. If you suspect you have shingles, it is highly recommended that you seek medical care from your physician. HIV patients develops severe and life-threatening illness from shingles. The shingles is more destructive in HIV positive individuals because their immune system is already weak. Since it takes 2-3 months for HIV to show up in the blood from the 1st day of exposure, it is definitely recommended to have an HIV test once every 3 months if you are sexually active.

If you have shingles and HIV negative, there are treatments available that are much more effective than for a HIV positive individual.

Regards,

John T, MD