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STDs (Expert Forum)
I had Cankersores and coldsores recently . Please help me understand
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
I had Cankersores and coldsores recently . Please help me understand
by bbff, Sep 08, 2005 12:00AM
I received unprotected oral sex at a message parlor not knowing the risks at all. Almost after 2.5 month I had one coldsore which I'd never experienced before which got me a little worried after few days I had 2 canker sores on my gums. Then I went to see my Dr. not mentioning what had happened but I told him I was worried about HIV infection.
After few days Canker sores went away but I found some white patches in my mouth which lasted for couple of days.
I went to see my Dr. again and at that time when he saw I was worried about HIV he recommended that I should do the test. I did not know about the timing of the test and had not told anything about my experience to my Dr. but the test actually was done exactly 13 weeks after my exposure.
The result was negative. In the mean time I had a week of diarrhea which I could not explain why. I thought it maybe due to stress. All those symptoms went away after that and I did not experience anything else.
I was still worried and went back to see my Dr. again and this time explained why I was worried and he recommended that I may want to do the test again after 3 months of original test.
1- Are Cankersores and Coldsores early sysmtoms of HIV?I am so worried and scared mainly because it was first time I experienced these sores and I did not know any relationship between these sympstoms and HIV when it happened. I did not really know that I might be at risk until I had these sores and started reading about them. And I had them both at the same time followed by diarrhea.
2- Should I do the second test? Please help me I am so worried.
After few days Canker sores went away but I found some white patches in my mouth which lasted for couple of days.
I went to see my Dr. again and at that time when he saw I was worried about HIV he recommended that I should do the test. I did not know about the timing of the test and had not told anything about my experience to my Dr. but the test actually was done exactly 13 weeks after my exposure.
The result was negative. In the mean time I had a week of diarrhea which I could not explain why. I thought it maybe due to stress. All those symptoms went away after that and I did not experience anything else.
I was still worried and went back to see my Dr. again and this time explained why I was worried and he recommended that I may want to do the test again after 3 months of original test.
1- Are Cankersores and Coldsores early sysmtoms of HIV?I am so worried and scared mainly because it was first time I experienced these sores and I did not know any relationship between these sympstoms and HIV when it happened. I did not really know that I might be at risk until I had these sores and started reading about them. And I had them both at the same time followed by diarrhea.
2- Should I do the second test? Please help me I am so worried.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Sep 08, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 08, 2005 12:00AM
I doubt I can add much to what your doctor told you. You clearly don't have HIV; the exposure you describe wasn't risky, and the negative HIV test at 13 weeks rules out that possibility.
I'm not sure I know what you mean by "cold sore"--or whether you even know what it means. Do you mean oral herpes? Have you had it before? Please describe the lesion. Canker sores are not a sign of HIV, except in some cases of people with advanced immunodeficiency; they are are with early HIV infection.
So to answer your questions:
1) No, in your case these are not signs of HIV. Oral herpes, canker sores, and diarrhea are very common in people without HIV.
2) No, you don't need further testing. Assuming you have no other HIV risks other than the exposure you describe, you do not have HIV. Period.
Good luck---- HHH, MD
I'm not sure I know what you mean by "cold sore"--or whether you even know what it means. Do you mean oral herpes? Have you had it before? Please describe the lesion. Canker sores are not a sign of HIV, except in some cases of people with advanced immunodeficiency; they are are with early HIV infection.
So to answer your questions:
1) No, in your case these are not signs of HIV. Oral herpes, canker sores, and diarrhea are very common in people without HIV.
2) No, you don't need further testing. Assuming you have no other HIV risks other than the exposure you describe, you do not have HIV. Period.
Good luck---- HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Thanks for your response.
I am just guessing based on what I have seen and others told me about cold sore.
Here is similar to what initially I had on my lower lip.
http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/hardin/md/cdc/1573.html
Thanks
I had experienced canker sores long time ago.
I don't know if it is releveny but I am HLA-B27 positive and I have also been diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis.
However, the oral ulcers (canker sores) could be related to your ankylosing spondylitis and HLA status. That history makes it even more unlikely those sores are related to the sexual event you descirbe.
For other forum users: HLA refers to a system of "tissue typing" related to certain proteins on the surfaces of all our cells. It's sort of like blood typing, except that there are many more HLA types than blood types. People whose HLA type is B27 are more susceptible to certain kinds of arthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis, like bbff.
As you may know, the term "reactive arthritis" refers to the entire range of arthritic conditions associated with HLA-B27. Some forms of reactive arthritis, especially the form called Reiter's syndrome, can be associated with ulcers in the mouth, similar to canker sores, but they may occur with ankylosing spondylitis as well. You should discuss those lesions with the provider you see for your arthritis/B27 condition and follow his or her advice.
HHH, MD
Thanks Dr. for taking your time and responding to all questions even repetitive one's. It gives us reassurance
when we get a personal response for our concern.