Please help

[sydneycat]

While I was in college I has vaginal intercourse with about 15 men total. Some was protected and some not (d/t drinking) My last possible exposure was about from 1999-2001. In 2003 I sae some white lines that appeared on the sides of my tounge and looked like OHL. I freaked out and went and got an EIA test done (2003) it was negative. The white stuff went away and lfe went on. Met my wonderful husband and we are now expecting our first baby. However the white stuff on my tounge has come back and I am very scared that I have OHL and my test was wrong. I fear for both my baby and husband. No other symptoms very healthy.

1. Is it possible that my test was wrong and I waited too long past the window time to test?
2. Is it possible for the virus to lay dormant?
3. Could I be positive?
4. Can you tell me about OHL?


Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"So the one HIV test was enough being that it was several years after my exposure correct?"

Correct.  Your new test result will also be negative.  I haven't any idea about the cause of your current tongue lesions, but it isn't HIV.

[sydneycat]

Thanks so much for your response!! So the one HIV test was enough being that it was several years after my exposure correct? I go to the MD tomorrow and labs will be drawn then. Just worried about the stupid things I did in the past and the white stuff on my tounge. The internet can be a scary place!!! It could be frictional keretosis on sides of tounge too.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the HIV forum.  I'll try to help.  Bottom line: no worries; it is exceedingly unlikely you have HIV.

Heterosexually transmitted HIV is less common than one might think, given media attention and often a biased slant of much sexual education.  The chance someone with your college lifestyle would catch HIV are not zero but they are very low.  And the standard HIV antibody tests are 100% reliable if done more than 6-8 weeks after the last possible exposure to the virus.

To your questions:

1) No, it is virtually impossible the test was wrong.

2) It is possible for HIV to remain asymptomatic ("dormant") for 8-10 years, but rare.  If you were infected, you probably would have been sick enough that the diagnosis would have been made by now.

3) No, it is not a realistic possibility you have HIV.

4) As for your symptoms, changes in the mouth due to HIV -- oral yeast ifnections, hairy leukoplakia, and others -- never occur by themselves.  They are signs of advanced immune deficiency and if HIV were the cause, you would be quite ill with other symptoms.

Throughout the US and most industrialized countries, almost all pregnant women are automatically tested for HIV. If you have had blood tests at all, they might have included HIV; ask your Ob.  If not tested yet (or is your Ob's office is atypical and does not do it automatically), ask for it now to help you put these fears to rest.

I hope this helps.  Best wishes for a successful pregnancy and healthy baby--  HHH, MD