Forum on Understanding Your Labs: HIV and boils

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		HIV and boils May 3, 2008 On sero convertion, among other symptoms, I had numerous boils develop under my arm (15 in total). I have since been diagnosed HIV+ and my cd4 count is 430, vl approx 10,000. Just recently (approx 6 months after last outbreak)I got another nasty boil on my chin. Can you advise whether this is related to being HIV+. Prior to sero conversion, I only experienced about 2/3 boils over my whole life (46 years).


		Response from Dr. Holodniy These are likely due to MRSA, a strain of staph bacteria. Although they occur frequently in HIV infected people, this infection (if that is what it is) is almost as likely to occur in those people without HIV infection.

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