I had casual, unprotected sex with a coworker of mine back in June (and this is not something I habitually do, it was actually the only time I've ever had unprotected sex). About one to two weeks later, I developed a fever and oral candiadisis...I had white spots in my throat, it hurt (severely) when I swallowed, I had angular cheilitis (those cracks in the corners of my mouth), and the tip of my tongue felt like it was burning. I also had a low-grade fever.
I took an HIV test at about 8 weeks and came back negative. However, about a week ago, the angular cheilitis came back, so I'm incredibly scared once again.

My partner said she had been tested after our encounter and has come back negative. But who knows, she might be saying that just to make me feel better.

I guess my main question is in terms of the types of symptoms I got that just, as a coincidence, happened to appear after unprotected sex. Can other viruses cause oral candiasis (such as normal cold/flu viruses), or does it seem like something far more serious? Also, it's been about 3 months now, and I'm dreading going back to the doctor. After 2 months, how accurate is testing?

I had casual, unprotected sex with a coworker of mine back in June (and this is not something I habitually do, it was actually the only time I've ever had unprotected sex). About one to two weeks later, I developed a fever and oral candiadisis...I had white spots in my throat, it hurt (severely) when I swallowed, I had angular cheilitis (those cracks in the corners of my mouth), and the tip of my tongue felt like it was burning. I also had a low-grade fever.
I took an HIV test at about 8 weeks and came back negative. However, about a week ago, the angular cheilitis came back, so I'm incredibly scared once again.

My partner said she had been tested after our encounter and has come back negative. But who knows, she might be saying that just to make me feel better.

I guess my main question is in terms of the types of symptoms I got that just, as a coincidence, happened to appear after unprotected sex. Can other viruses cause oral candiasis (such as normal cold/flu viruses), or does it seem like something far more serious? Also, it's been about 3 months now, and I'm dreading going back to the doctor. After 2 months, how accurate is testing?
Sure :cool: ... this may sound disgusting, but some of us females have been dealing with this same problem for just about forever... just in another place, so to speak! :rolleyes: Candida/Candidiasis just doesn't happen in one orafice you know, or only to women.
It requires any warm, moist place for the fungal bacteria to grow, and it can be caused by anything, like a piece of dirt, a cold or a virus or even a gum infection. But unfortuately in your case, it's in your mouth. My grandma used to have it form on the cracks of her lips also. The only setback was that nobody wanted grandma to kiss them! :jester: If your first HIV test came back negative, your chances that you have contracted HIV are much less... take another in 6 months to be sure, but in the meantime... don't worry! Go to the doctor and get a prescription... don't worry again -> It won't be "Monastat"!

Thanks, that helps a little. It's just that I keep reading about how thrush is EXTREMELY rare in anything other than something that lowers your immune system.

Also, I read that in order for thrush to take place (even in the initial stage), you would have already started to seroconvert, thus my two month test would have probably produced enough antibodies at this point. Of course, I only read this in one spot. I guess I'm confused about the relationship between seroconversion and the acute viral stage...if you develop systems, do you still have to wait 3 to 6 months for a completely accurate result?

First off, Id just like to say, generally, thrush is not associated with ARS. While oral thrush can be indicitave of HIV in the later stages, seeing as the immune system is becoming very damaged. Angular cheilitis,which is seen in the general public, not just HIV+ people in the later stages, can be caused by many things, one factor being stress! Also, Im just wondering how you knew you had white spots in your throat? Did you have it looked at? Is it possible you were just extremely anxious which caused a painful lump in the throat?The situation definitely sounds like a stessful one to me, therefore, your body is reacting. The chances of getting HIV from a one time exposure, is extremely low, also. Having already been tested negative, it would definitely point to the signs that you are not infected. If you are still worried, get tested after 3 months, it will be 100% conclusive, at least the CDC says so;)

I sometimes get oral thrush - and I have had a negative HIV test (that's not why I took the test btw - I was entering a new relationship).

Oral thrush can be caused by lots of things, not just HIV. For example: having a cold; having the flu; being a bit run down and tired; not eating healthily; being on antibiotics; diabetes.

Candida lives in the mouths of about half the population - when one of the above things happen, and the proportion of candida in the mouth becomes higher.

I personally get the cracked mouth thing everytime I get a cold or the flu, and when I'm run down or working too hard.

Also, having done research for the National AIDS Trust in the UK, my understanding is that it harder for a man to catch HIV from a woman than vice versa. (Although obviously the risk is still there).

Oral thrush can be caused by lots of things, not just HIV. For example: having a cold; having the flu; being a bit run down and tired; not eating healthily; being on antibiotics; diabetes.

That makes me feel a little better, but it seems like, in my constant online searches, the overwhelming opinion is that thrush is only caused by diabetes (which I don't have), HIV (usually worded as "diseases such as HIV"), and antibiotic reactions (which I wasn't taking). Even the CDC doesn't mention other causes. The doctor definitely did officially diagnose me with thrush, but she did it just by looking (no sample taken), and she didn't ask me to follow up with any blood work or testing, so perhaps she wasn't that concerned about it (I asked for the test myself two months later, she didn't suggest it).
Do other common viruses really lower your immune system (and if you can find a website or something that states this, it would make me feel quite a bit better while I wait for the results of my 3-month test), or is this just something to make me feel less anxious?:) It just freaks me out that the thrush would have accompanied a fever and sore throat (although sore throat could have been from the thrush) so soon after having unprotected sex...even though the girl keeps saying she's been tested and didn't put herself at risk in the months prior to our encounter. I guess I have no choice but to believe her.
Also, isn't thrush pretty rare in regards to ARS? I didn't have swollen lymph nodes, I wasn't tired, and I didn't even have a headache or sweats. If the ARS was severe enough to lower my immune system enough to let the thrush in, wouldn't I have gotten other symptoms as well? Or is it really just pretty random?

Oh yeah, I also tested positive that week (the week I got sick) to having Group B Strep...NOT the bacteria that causes Strep throat (that's Group A), but the thing most common in babies and pregnant women...and I'm a 22 year old male! In any way, shape, or form could this have contributed to my being sick or getting the thrush?

Sorry to ask so many questions, the anxiety has just been really difficult, especially since I already suffer from chronic anxiety problems and panic attacks to begin with. It's been tough to even function these last few days. Thanks guys!

Not to get to personal...just thought it might be something else to consider...if you possibly performed oral sex on her. If she had a yeast infection, you could have gotten the trush in your throat from that. As far as thrush and HIV is concerned, there are some sights that will list thrush as a very rare symptom, however, most dr's dont associate thrush with ARS. Honestly, I agree with your theory, that if you had gotten thrush as a result of ARS, you would have suffered from other symptoms, but I really cant tell you if thats true. A virus, lowers the immune system, therefore, this is why some people in the more advanced stages will start to get thrush, b/c their immune system is being faught against for so long. I would assume that if your immune system was lowered to the point of having thrush b/c of ARS, you would have suffered from other symptoms, but I am no dr, and no expert. :bouncing:

REMOVED

Here's a link to some, hopefully reassuring, information about thrush.

Hmm, I'm still not completely convinced. If thrush can really be caused by "just about anything" (as I was told on the CDC hotline), how come 99% of all websites mention HIV, diabetes, and nothing else? It just doesn't make sense. Do things like this often happen for inexplicable reasons?

Hi Durtro

Thrush really is a very common infection to contract. Creams and treatments are sold over the counter in every chemist's shop and most supermarkets. If only people who had HIV contracted this infection, it would not need to be so widely available or mass produced.

You ask why links to HIV are brought up on your PC when you search for information about Thrush - for example, when I was ill a while ago, I searched on the internet listing my symptoms. I had recently had an abnormal smear test (pap) taken and was suffering from night sweats, so I searched on the web and every reference to night sweats and abnormal smears said that these were more common in people who suffered from HIV/AIDS. My condition was not linked to HIV at all although it did cause me endless worry.

Searching on the internet is just about the worst thing you can do when in your situation as the sites diagnosing health problems always seem to list the most extreme and unlikely reason for your minor illness.

It will be hard for you and will seem like forever but just hang in there until your 3 months have passed and get tested again.

From the information you have given, I am sure you will be fine but you know the only way to know for sure is to test again at 3 months.

Thursh in HIV+ people does not show until cd4 counts go below 200 which takes several yrs to develop. So I woudlnt worry bout that...probably stress realted.

One thing I just remembered tonight is this; I've been using a topical corticosteroid called Desonide (treatment for Eczema) for a little over a year. I don't use a LOT of it...only about once a day, and sometimes I'll go a day or two without it.
Anyways, I've read that using corticosteroids can actually suppress your immune system. This still wouldn't explain the fever, weight loss (8 pounds in two months) and "just right" timing of my illness, but it's some glimmer of hope for me, at least.
Does anyone know if my long-term use of this topical treatment (standard dosage for about a year and a few months), could have thrown my system out of whack and triggered the thrush?

I mean...if I developed a "normal" virus, just the sore throat and fever, in combination with my apparently lowered immune system, is this at all feasible? I'm just trying to be realistic here. I've worried as much as I can, now I'm just getting ready for the worst.

One personal observation on candidiasis (thrush, and the associated yeast issues) and dealing with it: I have had great success battling back against the yeast overgrowth with an alkalizing diet. I have an immune system dysfunction that is genetic but similar to AIDS which makes it very easy for opportunistic infections to take hold, and changing my diet has made the greatest impact on my health. Although your personal tolerance for supplements and what not has to be judged before embarking upon something like an alkalizing diet, I've found that the small change of cutting sugars out while adding coconut oil caplets and aloe vera juice has literally almost eliminated the outbreak of yeast throughout my body. Best of luck!

Its almost like these symptom websites for thrush and other ailments try to scare people by associating everything with hiv when many other things can cause them.