Thrush due to HIV: what are the symptoms and how to deal with it?

Almost everyone must have had mouth sores occasionally in their life. However, in people with HIV, the appearance of canker sores will be more frequent, perhaps more numerous, and more difficult to cure. Yes! People with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) are more prone to developing thrush than healthy people. Why is that?

The cause of thrush appears in people with HIV

Thrush usually occurs as a result of the inside of the mouth being bitten when eating or chewing something. However, in PLWHA, the appearance of canker sores is one of the common symptoms of HIV infection.

There are several factors behind the appearance of thrush in PLWHA. However, the main trigger is immune disorders. HIV is a disease that attacks the immune system so that sufferers will be more susceptible to falling sick and being attacked by various kinds of infections.

The cause of thrush in people with HIV most likely originated from opportunistic infections such as herpes infection, oral HPV infection, and candida yeast infection. All of these ailments mentioned can each produce symptoms in the form of canker sores or open sores in any part of the mouth.

This thrush will be more difficult to cure so that the appetite of people with HIV can decrease due to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Gradually, this can make PLWHA lose weight and find it difficult to get fat.

On the other hand, the more difficult it is to eat, the less nutritional intake the body will get. When you are not getting enough nutrients, the function of the immune response will decline. As a result, you will be more susceptible to thrush.

Yes! Low intake of vitamin B-3 (niacin), vitamin B-9 (folic acid), and vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) can be a cause of mouth ulcers. Several studies have also shown that insufficient intake of zinc, calcium, and iron can trigger or even worsen mouth ulcers.

Symptoms of thrush that indicate HIV infection

The canker sores themselves are small round or oval open sores that appear around the soft tissues in the mouth. The center of the canker sores is whitish or yellowish, while the edges are reddish.

Canker sores generally appear on the tongue, gums, inner cheeks, inner lips, or roof of the mouth that feel sore.

Over time, the small lump will enlarge and fill with pus or a fluid similar to a blistered skin. On average, this lump is formed as big as one centimeter, but can also be bigger.

How to deal with thrush in people with HIV

The main treatment to cure thrush is by administering HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). ARV treatment can slow down the infection and stage of HIV so that the body's immune work can be stronger to overcome the infection that causes thrush.

However, canker sores experienced by PLWHA must also be treated according to the specific cause. In general, thrush caused by other opportunistic viral infections, the appropriate treatment is to use antivirals. If the cause is herpes simplex, the doctor will give you acyclovir which needs to be consumed during the canker sores.

If the thrush is specifically caused by an opportunistic bacterial infection, the antibiotic may be prescribed. Medicines and antifungal mouthwashes can be used to treat thrush caused by a yeast infection.

A study published in the journal The Canadian Journal of Infectious Disease reported the drug pentoxifylline is also proven to be effective in relieving thrush in people with HIV. This drug has anti-inflammatory properties equivalent to the drug thalidomide, which was previously known to treat severe canker sores in people with HIV.

Thrush can transmit the virus

HIV transmission occurs through the exchange of body fluids. This is what causes many people to worry about contracting HIV through canker sores, because canker sores can contain saliva or fluids. However, the reality is not that easy.

Saliva or saliva does not contain enough HIV virus (viral load) to transmit infection. Only blood and certain types of body fluids can carry and transfer the HIV virus to other people. The body fluids referred to are semen, preseminal fluids, vaginal fluids, rectum fluids, and breast milk (ASI).

Transmission is also only possible if there is direct contact between the blood or body fluids of a person with HIV and the blood or body fluids of an uninfected person.

HIV canker sores are open sores on the inside of the mouth that in some cases contain blood (blood blisters). The presence of open wounds and blood is indeed possible for the transfer of the HIV virus from one person to another.

A person can get HIV through canker sores when blood or body fluids from an infected person get into the open parts of the canker sores and bleed. However, cases of transmission through thrush are still rare.

To avoid the risk of transmitting HIV through thrush, always use a condom when having vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex. The reason is, the risk of transmission will also increase if there is a wound on the genitals of a person with HIV because there can be direct contact between your blood and the blood of a partner who has HIV.

How to prevent canker sores in the mouth

Routinely going to the dentist is a good way to prevent mouth sores. Dentists can help people with HIV to cope with existing symptoms and prevent them from coming back in the future.

It is advisable to see a dentist for thrush which:

• Very painful.
• Lasts more than 1-2 weeks.
• Makes it difficult to take medicine.
• Affects the ability to eat, swallow, or speak.
• Occurs together with other symptoms.

Some of the other ways to prevent thrush include:

• Take HIV medication consistently.
• Practice good oral hygiene.
• Quit smoking.
• Get used to drinking water.
• Avoid foods and drinks that taste spicy and / or sour.
• Get used to eating healthy foods that are nutritionally balanced.

Get an HIV test immediately if you suspect you've been exposed to the virus from thrush

If you are not sure whether you contracted HIV through contact with HIV thrush during oral sex and kissing, immediately consult a health facility for a blood test or antibody test.

The only way to make sure you are free of the HIV virus is to be tested or tested for HIV. The sooner you detect the HIV virus, the more effective symptom control and spread of the disease you can work on.

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