HIV how quick

[SkinJ]

I have a question regarding oral symptoms of HIV. White tongue thrush and general disorders discussed on this site (below) and many others.

Taken from here: http://www.hivdent.org/_oralmanifestations_/oralmanifestations_OMHAH0502.htm

I am looking for more informaiton on this, not the symptoms them selves, as these are listed below, but the time scale over which they occur. I realise that most concern on this forum is around ARS, when this occurs and what is likely to happen there. These kinds of oral conditions here are not part of ARS as far as I know. How quickly do these kinds of mouth disorders occur post infection with HIV. Or is this an unknown? For example would an infected individual experience these symptoms  within 5 weeks 2 months, 3 months 6 months, X years ? Is there a guide on the timeline, what is expected?

Many thanks.

"Oral manifestations of HIV infection are a fundamental component of disease progression and occur in approximately 30 to 80 percent of the affected patient population. 1, 2, 3 Factors which predispose expression of oral lesions include CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3, viral load greater than 3000 copies/mL, xerostomia, poor oral hygiene and smoking. 4,5 Oral lesions are differentiated as fungal, viral and bacterial infections, neoplasms such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-specific presentations such as aphthous ulcerations and salivary gland disease. "

[troggs]

I know, it was just a thought.

[Teak]

If you have a concern about your tongue then see your doctor. You can't be diagnosed over the Internet. I doubt if you have thrush. Scrape the white on your tongue. Did your tongue bleed? Is it painful? If not you don't have thrush.

[troggs]

No, understand it better now, but thank you. So what do you think about my toungue being white then? HIV?

[Teak]

I believe we were talking about Thrush, not your white tongue. Thrush is not the same as someone with just a white tongue. Just because one has a white tongue doesn't mean they have Thrush.

Oral thrush
From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com
Introduction

Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus Candida albicans grows out of control. Like most healthy people, you probably have small amounts of the fungus in your mouth and digestive tract and on your skin. You can't see the fungus and normally won't know it's there — it usually doesn't cause problems because normal bacteria (flora) in your body keep its growth in check. But when this balance is disturbed —" by medications or illness" — Candida can grow out of control, leading to problems such as diaper rash and vaginal yeast infections as well as oral thrush.

Do you need any further data on thrush chapeau?

[troggs]

So my white toungue could have been caused by the antibiotics i took?
Stress/candida can also cause these symptoms. Okay.

[SkinJ]

Hi Chris, no I have a white tongue, did not have one before. Painful at times and so on - not wantiing to go on here.There are a number of other mouth like things going on for me. But my point is when would these things start, if they were HIV related. Did you ever get to the bottom of what you and your family are going through? I am not sure what a bacterial coated tongue is or looks like, it could be that. But what ever it is it was not there before. What I am driving at is this. When people get HIV their imune systems is intitially swamped with the virus. ARS may or may not happen, but in any event the body reacts. However the imune system is still supressed to an extent and hence the mouth becomes a target for oportunistic infections which are realy symptoms of a supressed imune system, which ordinarily would deal with these pathogens. Now my question is - at what point do these organisms gain the upper hand and show them selves in someone who has become HIV positive. If I have misunderstood why I think these signs are important then can some one tell me so. Thanks.

[SkinJ]

Its not specific I agree and anyone can get this at any age without HIV being the cause. However it is treated as an indicator and I don't mean Thrush specifically, I mean the other oral conditions. Sure smoking, bad oral hygene, anti biotics and so on can cause all these things too, but ... what if you don't smoke, clean your teeth and are not on antibiotics, but have simply been at risk? Or is this the road to madness to think like this?

[Teak]

What is there to get a hold of? Some people get thrush, some don't and it's not HIV specific. There is nothing more to grab for.

[SkinJ]

This is a very slippery thing to get a handle on. I am simply very keen to know any more informaiton on this "Oral manifestations of HIV infection are a fundamental component of disease progression and occur in approximately 30 to 80 percent of the affected patient population." Aside from the ARS symptoms which may or may not occur, the oral manifestations seem to be more widely present the 80 mark in fact. If this were not the case I am not sure why the medical profession would be listing them.What they don't say is the time scale over which they occur.

I appreciate your comments Extreem - just the whole thing is something I want to get a hold of. Testing is comming along,,,,,,,,, sorry. I know this is the real answer. Anyone else found anything along these lines?

[Teak]

It was 21 years before I had my first and case of Thrush. Thrush is not HIV specific and can happen to infants on up. Thrush, is usually cause by antibiotic use that destroys the good bacteria in the mouth. There is no time line for someone to contract thrush if they are going to or not.

[ExtremeStress]

timescales? you are looking for the impossible there my friend. It affects everyone in different fashions and at different times. some don't get that portion and some will.

[scaredmark]

Symptoms or there lack of are not indicative of HIV.
Only a test will tell you the truth.