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What does early HIV mean?
The early HIV stage can start a few days after exposure to the virus and last for several months. During this stage, the virus rapidly reproduces. Most of the time, the symptomatic early HIV phase lasts for about 14 days. Remember that up to 60% of people do not have any symptoms.
[4, 5]
HIV and AIDS: The Basics
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-aids-basics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV Basics
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/index.html
How often do people develop mouth sores with early HIV?
The chance of getting mouth sores with early HIV is 30-80%. And it can be the earliest sign of HIV. A weakened immune system causes it.
How soon do people get mouth sores after contracting HIV?
Most mouth lesions appear 2-4 weeks after exposure to the virus.
What are the symptoms of mouth sores with early HIV?
Mouth sores caused by HIV weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight the infection [3] HIV/Dent http://www.hivdent.org/ .
Some mouth sores -not all cause pain while chewing, swallowing, taking medication, and talking.
What are the most common causes of early HIV sores inside the mouth?
The most common inside-the-mouth sores during the early HIV stage are the following types [2] Oral manifestations of HIV infection by gender and transmission category in Mexico City https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9563806/ :
| Photo | How to recognize it? | Painful? | Contagious? |
|---|---|---|---|
Canker sore |
Solitary deep sore. Can be multiple but widespread around the mouth. Appear in many places in the mouth: inner surface of the cheeks, lips, tongue, and soft palate. | Yes | No |
Thrush |
White or grey plaques inside the mouth. Usually affects the tongue and inner cheeks and occasionally the roof of the mouth. | Yes | No |
Herpes |
Multiple shallow sores, clustered together on the red base. Mostly affects the inner lip area. Occasionally seen on the soft palate, tongue, or the back of the throat. | Yes | Highly contagious |
Hairy leukoplakia |
White patches on the tongue (usually affecting its sides). Occasionally affect other parts of the mouth: cheeks and inner lips. | No | Usually, no |
What are the most common early HIV sores outside the mouth?
The most common outside-of-the-mouth sores in early HIV are the following:
✓ Herpes
✓ Angular cheilitis
| Photo | Description | Painful? | Contagious? |
|---|---|---|---|
Herpes |
Multiple sores clustered together on the red base. Most commonly affect the lip border where the mucosa transition into skin. | Yes | Yes |
Angular cheilitis |
Red swollen patch at the mouth corner (where lips make an angle) | Yes | No |
Source
-
Oral Manifestations of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344974/ -
Oral manifestations of HIV infection by gender and transmission category in Mexico City
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9563806/ -
HIV/Dent
http://www.hivdent.org/ -
HIV and AIDS: The Basics
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-and-aids-basics -
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV Basics
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/index.html
