very worried/question for informed - HIV Prevention Message Board

07-23-2003, 09:51 AM

in general how soon after contracting the virus do things like oral thrush and seborrheic dermatitis occur. i read that these occur pretty earl on and in almost all hiv victims. it seems that the only way a healthy adult would get these things if they came down with hiv. thanks for any reply.........

maybe helpful · 07-23-2003, 10:13 AM

In response to the seborrheic dermatitis:
The sites I found listed this as COMMON in any age and any race for MANY reasons. Of the FEW sites I found linking it to HIV marked it as severe and sudden. From one site:

"The exact mechanism whereby human immunodeficiency virus infection promotes an atypical and explosive onset of seborrheic dermatitis (and other common inflammatory skin disorders) is unknown, but many factors have been explored, including CD4-positive T lymphocyte counts,5 P. ovale density6 and nutritional factors."

As far as the Thrush goes, it is usually a few years after exposure that this can start.

The REASON HIV infected individuals have these things, AND many others, is because the HIV has weakened their immune systems, making it difficult to fight off the things MANY of us can. Its called an opportunistic infection, because the bacteria takes the opportunity the HIV gives it and invades the body. This does not happen in early HIV infection, but rather AFTER it is diagnosed. Also, MANY people with HIV can take between 8 to 10 years to show symptoms that indicate HIV infection.

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Good Luck and Be Safe

07-23-2003, 10:55 AM

thanks for the reply. i recently came down with what i think to be seborrheic dermatitis over the weekend. i have been stressed out lately and the only other reason i think i could have gotten this is because i recently started using rogain and that can cause dandruff and a dry scalp. what scares me though is i think i also had oral thrush on the insides of both checks when i woke up sunday morning. it was large white areas that were easily scraped of, they are now gone. i would be at about the 8 month mark from my risky behavoir.(received oral for a long time) i will be going to the docter soon.

maybe helpful · 07-23-2003, 11:02 AM

Some things I forgot in my other post:

Usualluy the dermatits that affects HIV patients is VERY severe, and resists drug treatments. When it affects people without HIV, it can happen due to weather, illness and many other risk factors. It is not necesarrily an indication.

Thrush can also occur in ANYONE at anytime. It is an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth. Illness, besides HIV can also cause this. My husband had it after being severley sunburned and dehydrated. His body was unable to keep the bacteria at bay. Its not uncommon.

Since I dont know how long ago your possible exposure was or how much risk was invloved, all I can say is if you are really concerned to be tested.

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Good Luck and Be Safe

07-23-2003, 11:26 AM

my possible exposer would have been about 8 months ago from oral. i am going to go to the docters soon. both of these symtoms poped up on on sunday when i woke up in the morning. i did drink all weekend, starting friday night waking up sat. and started when i went out on a boat all day sat, until about 2:00 a.m. that night. i was never really to worried about hiv until these things both all of sudden came about. i know the rogain i am taking can cause dandruff resulting in dermatitis. i am just trying to find info. on these things, i do know i need to get to a docter. i just don't understand why they would happen on the same day like that. that is what is worrying me. thanks for your replys and the info.