White Tounge

[steve25]

Dear Doctors,
Here is my situation--I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex with a stripper seven weeks ago. The vaginal sex lasted less than five minutes and I did not ejaculate in her. I have read the posts about the odds of getting infected with HIV so I will spare you that question. However, after the sex I started to read the possible ARS symptoms and I did not experience any of them. No swollen lymph nodes, no fever, no rash, nothing. After about four weeks when I had no symptoms I figured I was in the clear and then I noticed that my tounge had a white coating on it. Naturally I assumed the worst and began reading about thrush and hairy leukoplakia. There are a lot of conflicting reports on the internet about these two things--I was hoping that you could clarify. In my case I don't think it is thrush because it does not wipe off or bleed. I am also not sure about hairy luekoplakia becuase it is on the top of my tounge and not the sides. Other than being white, the tounge looks normal except when I run my teeth over it and then it can look a little furry. The coating is heavier on the back of my tounge. When I brush my tounge the coating remains. The thought of HIV has been on my mind since I made my stupid mistake so is anxiety a possiblity for my white tounge? I am also counfused--is a white tounge a symptom of HIV infection or is it more at the later statges of the disease? Also would it be possible for my white tounge to be the only sign of an HIV infection without any of the other ARS symptoms?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You may have thrush but if you do , it is not because of HIV.  Being familiar with this site and search it for terms like "thrush", or "white tongue".  In doing so, you will see that your concerns are common but unwarranted.  Both thrush and hairy leukoplakia are finding present in persons who have had their HIV infections for years, not weeks.  In addition, thrush involving only the tongue is uncommon.  If your want to sort out the white tongue, see your health care provider but don't worry about having HIV.  As far as HIV is concerned, if you are worried, get tested, if the test is negative, then stop worrying about HIV.  Hope this helps.  EWH

[steve25]

Thank you Doctor

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I would not worry and would move on.  EWH

[steve25]

Thank you for your answer. One last thing--How worried should I be about my white tounge? and in your professional opinion since you don't believe my white tounge is a result of HIV would you recommed that I get tested or just move on with my life?

Thanks

[worried826]

I got it too and i tested negative. I am convinced you can get this weird white tongue thing from giving oral to a woman that has a yeast infection.