Does Chest Cold Mean I Have AIDS

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Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores and Genital Herpes)

What Is Herpes? Herpes simplex refers to a group of viruses that infect humans. Like herpes zoster (shingles, see Fact Sheet 509 ), herpes simplex causes painful skin eruptions. Itching and tingling are usually the first signs, followed by a blister that breaks open. The infection stays dormant in nerve cells. This is called "latency." However, it can become active again with no warning. Herpes can be active without symptoms or visible signs....

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Black Spots: Does it Mean I have AIDS?

I have brother who is HIV +. He is only using feed supplements at the moment. He recently started developing some black spots on his skin (forhead, chest, and back). They do not pain him but make him uncomfortable, as he is worried that he may be...

Response from Judith A. Aberg, M.D.

Washington University, St. Louis School of Medicine

Changes in the skin are a concern for all of us regardless of whether or not we have underlying health problems. You raise two different issues in your question. Let's talk about these "black spots" first.There are many different... Read more »

Any OI similar to cold?

Hello, can you tell me if there are any opportunistic infections whose symptoms are similar to a typical head/chest cold? After just a week on meds (CD4 below 50, viral load over a million), I'm feeling much better in terms of energy and...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

There is no AIDS-associated OI that has symptoms identical to a common cold. HIV+ people do tend to have colds and other upper respiratory infections more often than HIV-s.... Read more »

I tested negative for hiv does this also mean im negative for aids?

Im a little confused...If you test negative for hiv does that mean you also do not have aids?...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,Yep, it does appear you are more than a little confused, or at least not well informed. Perhaps you are a victim of home schooling or Dubya's abstinence-only sex education curriculum. At any rate, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the... Read more »

Does positive toxo test mean diagnosis of AIDS?

I know that toxoplasmosis is listed as one of the 'AIDS defining illnesses'. I am healthy and have no symptoms, but my Dr. suggested that I get tested for toxoplasmosis as a routine test. She said that the blood test can determine if...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

The positive toxo antibody test indicates past exposure and not necessarily active infection. If your CD4 count is > 200 then regardless of whether your toxo antibody test is positive you don't have AIDS.... Read more »

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Negative means Negative!!!

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

I was a frequenter to this board almost two years ago. For all the worried well, please read this.
In Oct '99, I had a low risk exposure with a man who I found out two weeks later was poz.
About a week after my exposure, I noticed a small... Read more »

recurrent colds

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Are recurrent colds (within the first 5 months of infection) a sign of HIV? I mean, my immune system is clearly weakened since I've been getting sick so often. I've had about 3 or 4 since having unprotected sex twice with someone of unknown status.... Read more »

a tenacious cold?

Posted by pozartistsd, 2 Replies

Hi all... I just caught some kind of bug from one of my family members when i was visiting. I had a flu shot but still got some kind of flu/cold like illness, more like a cold actually. I was worried for about a week since i only have around 300... Read more »

Traditional Chinese Medicine and AIDS

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Andrographis Paniculata has been used for hundreds of years in China and India to fight off colds, flu and respiratory infections. There is some tantalizing evidence that suggests it may also help fight the AIDS virus. A study was done in 1988... Read more »

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