Hi .... Im a 27yo male about to start treatment, my VL is high(35k) and my CD4s are 350.

Anyway I have had (for the past 3 or 4 weeks)

aphtous ulcerations in my mouth.They heal well and quickly (in less than a week or so) and are often not VERY painful (just uncomfortable).The problem is this.... it seems just after one heals another starts in some other corner of the mouth.I talked about it with my Dr. and she says they could be there for a lot of reasons not necessarily cause of HIV.

But im getting tired and worried. Any clues.. THank you for your time and the wonderful job you and all the ppl in "The Body" are doing.

The reason why people develop aphthous ulcerations has been and continues to be a mystery. We do know that 19% of adults 25 to 44 years of age will develop either aphthous ulcerations or herpetic ulcerations. We also know that people living with HIV/AIDS are more likely to present with aphthous ulcers as are people who smoke, drink alcoholic beverages and are under stress.

My advice: If the ulcers prevent you from eating, taking medication, etc, ask your doctor to prescribe a topical steroid mouthwash such as Decadron elixir or Celestone syrup. These topical medications address the inflammation (pain) associated with aphthous ulcerations. There is a new over-the-counter medication which will be available within a few months known as Sooth N' Seal. This new product protects the sore and allows it to heal more rapidly.

Take care and thank you for the kind words!

DR