What types of symptoms do infectious disease specialists look for to indicate HIV?!


Question: What types of symptoms do infectious disease specialists look for to indicate HIV.?
just wondering how they rule out HIV without an HIV test.?
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Answers:
you cannot rule it out without a test.

but there are some strong clues that you are looking at an infected individual

1. oral candidiasis -
contrary to popular myth, this does NOT come from taking an antibiotic (unlike vaginal candida). If you see this, in a patient not on chemotherapy, prednisone, nor inhaled steroid, it really is a guarantee that the person is HIV infected.

2. molluscum contagiosum in an adult - pretty unusual, and is a clue (but not definitive) for HIV.

3. significant wasting - temporal wasting, loss of facial fat stores

4. uncontrolled tinea pedis -- more than the typical athlete's foot. I see cases where there is fungal infection over the entire foot, even up the leg.

5. on blood count, you can look at the total lymphocyte count. finding a total lymphocyte count of less than 500 is suspicious, less than 200 is very suspicious for HIV. Likewise, just seeing a total WBC count that is low is often a tipoff.

6. chronic ulcerative herpes - on the lips or genitals - meaning lesions present for more than a month. Not common, but almost diagnostic when seen.

7. VERY severe seborrheic dermatitis - though mild disease is common ( I have it) without immune disease, when it is rampant, is a tipoff.

8. new and severe psoriasis.

9. oral hairy leukoplakia - a white set of ridges on the side of the tongue - very specific.

10. VERY severe warts - usually on the hands or genitals. of course common in normal people, but when especially severe can be a clue.

There are lots of things to look for, but all these (except for thrush) are just clues. you need blood testing to rule in or rule out.

I'll say again - there is a common myth that many normal people get thrush . This is incorrect. They are misdiagnosed by their family doctors - I see this almost every day. True , real oral candidiasis means a PROFOUND immune deficit. Again, in the cases of thrush I've seen in my life, if the patient was not on a medication known to cause it, then 100% of the time we find HIV infection.Health Question & Answer

HIV usually doesn't have any symptoms until its in the more advanced stages, then you are likely to get diseases that are called opportunistic infections.

So, all doctors would look for more behavioral factors that might indicate that a person is at higher risk for HIV, such as multiple sex partners with out protection (condom) or injection drug use.

If you have never had a HIV test though, its a good idea to ask to have one done, everyone should know their status and if you put yourself at risk you should get tested again.

When you go in for an HIV test, you can get counseling too, which is part of the standard procedure. this counseling is just between you and that person and it helps you understand what HIV is and what your risk is and how you can reduce your risk. Health Question & Answer

HIV isn't symptomatic therefor only a blood test can detect it. However, there are symptoms of aids. The best indicator to look at for either is risky past behavior such as unprotected sex, exposure to hiv pos. blood, sharing needles, etc....Health Question & Answer

they use a blood test..............they don't guess.......Health Question & Answer



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