The mouth is a vital body structure that serves as entry point for food that nourishes human body. The parts of the mouth include the lips, tongue, teeth, gums and the oral mucosa or membrane. through the tongue, humans appreciate various tastes of different foods, from the all-time favorite “happy food” chocolate to sour lemons that make our lips “puckered.”

However, there’s one more thing that can make a person pucker his lips with all the frowning face; but this time it is not due to the food taste, instead it is a frown drawn from pain and disgust caused by a mouth yeast infection called oral thrush. Oral thrush is just one of the diseases caused by the Candida fungus, popularly known as yeast. This is common among children (infants and toddlers) as well as the elderly. The common denominator among them is weak immune system. In cases of children, it is often brought about by their immature or underdeveloped immune system, while elderly have deteriorating body resistance due to aging. Apart from them, adult individuals with underlying diseases that assaults the immune system like Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV) and Cancer are susceptible of contracting the fungal disease as well.

Oral Thrush Causes

Candida albicans is the primary causative agent for most yeast infections. It naturally harbors in controlled population at the gastrointestinal tract, skin, genital area and even in the mouth together with the good bacteria (probiotics). Both priobiotics and yeasts protect the body from invasion of other pathogenic microorganisms. However, there are certain conditions that everything gets out of control like when the yeast excessively multiplies while the good bacteria are reduced in number. This microflora imbalance results into yeast infection as Candida dominates. If this incident occurs in the mouth, then it is a mouth yeast infection (oral thrush).

Some of the risk factors associated with mouth fungal infection are smoking, dry mouth (due to dehydration or decreased fluid intake), and ill-fitted dentures. Yeast infection can also be drug- induced through administration of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory (cortecosteroids), birth control pills and other chemotherapy drugs. Hormonal imbalance particularly in women are also pointed out to might have triggered overgrowth of yeast and some of the conditions identified are pregnancy, menstruation and menopausal period. Diabetes can also provide a body system favorable for growth of yeast because this fungus takes its nutrition from simple sugar (glucose), which is elevated in diabetic individuals.

Oral Thrush Signs and Symptoms

Oral thrush signs and symptoms typically have an abrupt onset in severe form and may heal within a short span of time. However, it may become chronic particularly when there is improper management of the disease. its symptoms may also have remission (controlled state) but may recur and become pronounced again (severe) when the infected person’s immune system weakens and the abovementioned risk factors triggers yeast overgrowth.

The common presenting symptom of mouth yeast infection (oral thrush) is creamy white elevated (cottage cheese-like) lesions in the tongue, buccal mucosa (inner cheek), gums, hard and soft palate (roof of the mouth) and tonsils (back of the throat). In fact, this mouth fungal infection may even worsen and infect the esophagus (the tube-like structure that connects mouth to the stomach). aside from the disgusting mouth lesions, pain is generally experienced by infected individuals, particularly when the lesions erode or get scraped upon tooth brushing and it may even bleed. Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), fever and feeling of throat tightness or that something is stuck in the chest may also be experienced by individuals suffering from mouth infection because of the thick growth of yeast in the throat and esophagus. with all the signs and symptoms oral thrush may manifest, an individual with mouth yeast infection would really miss to smile most of the time. How could someone smile anyway when one is agonizing from pain and from the lesions that appear so unhygienic? hence, save your smile and prevent mouth yeast infection.

When you’re suffering from oral Candida then you must treat it just the same as you would any other type of fungal infection on your body. This is because they are caused by the same infection causing organism. Your body is now allowing the Candida to mutate into fungus and that is why you’re suffering from your infections, and your mouth is suffering the most because it has a high concentration of fungus feeding in it. the fungus buildup is what is causing the white patches in your mouth, and if you see red patches then that is where the fungus has perforated your skin. So at the moment your mouth has become a good home for the fungus, and to cure your infection you need to change that. you’re going to need constant treatment if you don’t achieve this, and the fungus in your mouth will continue to infect your intestines.

Yeast loves warm and moist parts of your body

Fungus always breeds in warm, mist places in and on the human body. which makes a woman’s genitalia the most common place for an infection if this kind, on the human body. Your mouth is also another warm moist place, and fungal infections are getting more common in this part of the human body. This type of oral infection has a negative impact on your internal health. Your digestion will get affected if you’re swallowing infection causing fungus all day. and when you start taking antacids all day to treat that problem then you’ll create an intestinal fungal infection. and that is the last thing your body needs at the moment. All the fungus in your body will do exactly what it is doing in your mouth. It will feed on the cells of your body as well as what you’re feeding on.

Heartburn treatments make your condition worse

Your stomach produces acid for many reasons and it gets neutralized by indigestion remedies. Your intestines are usually protected by this acid as it kills organisms that ar swallowed with food. When you’re neutralizing the acid in your stomach the fungus will survive the journey into your intestines. and an intestinal yeast infection will soon follow. because you’re swallowing the fungus as well as the yeast mutating into it, and you’ll have fungus feeding on the inside of your body as well as your mouth. while you’re just taking a medicine for your oral thrush then your intestinal infection is going untreated. So you need to start taking something that is going to treat your infection from the root cause. You must stop treating the symptoms of your infection if you want the fungus to stop feeding on your body.

You have to get the yeast under control

The Candida in your body has been kept under control by good bacteria, but the numbers of this protection have fallen, and now you’re unprotected. When you replenish the good bacteria in your body then you’ll be will on your way to curing your infection. You won’t just be targeting one part of your body, it will be treated as one infection so every part of your body gets cured. Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Always see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment for any type of infection.

There are many different factors you must think about that will determine the best method of treatment. You may not be aware of a better treatment method that has been developed for one of the various contingencies you have overlooked. The person most suited to determine your best course of action is your doctor. however, you can visit your pharmacy and find yeast infection medications in just about any formulation that don’t require a prescription. One interesting study revealed that two out of three women totally dropped the ball when they used self-diagnosis for vaginal yeast infection. That’s a big difference between those who were correct and those who were incorrect.

As we have often discussed, there are very many women who use self-diagnosis and self-prescribed treatment for vaginal yeast infections. if you self-diagnose and make a mistake, you will only realize this by paying close attention to how your body responds to the treatment. You may have vaginal discharge, which could be a symptom of a yeast infection, but you should take a trip to the hospital if you have other symptoms. Symptoms as diverse as flatulence after you eat and a craving for sugar-laden foods could indicate a much more serious condition, even if they are accompanied by your common yeast infection symptoms. such symptoms could indicate very serious medical conditions totally unrelated to yeast infections.

Candidiasis oral is a yeast infection that frequently occurs in babies, children, and adults. The common name for this type of infection, which appears in the mouth, is oral thrush. as a rule, oral thrush requires a liquid prescription drug, such as Nystatin, which is an antifungal. Nystatin is easy to take by the mouthful. Hold it in your mouth as long as you can and then gargle with it. after that, you simply swallow the liquid. as a rule, you won’t be able to treat oral thrush effectively without seeing your doctor and being properly evaluated. There are other ways to treat oral thrush, and your doctor just might prefer to do something different. One major warning if you have oral thrush – do not ever try to remove the white patches by scraping. You will cause bleeding and more damage to the tissues under the patches. also, the condition will become much more painful if you attempt to scrape it off.

Some people consider a natural treatment for a vaginal yeast infection using boric acid capsules as being more effective than prescription medications. It’s especially useful if you have a chronic yeast infection that didn’t respond to other antifungal medicines. This natural remedy is not recommended for someone who is pregnant and has a vaginal yeast infection. as we repeatedly stress, if you are pregnant and develop a vaginal yeast infection, you MUST visit your doctor or gynecologist. We mentioned boric acid as a popular natural home-remedy for a vaginal yeast infection; however, we still maintain that it’s much better to see your doctor for a correct evaluation, especially if your infection isn’t responding to treatment. if you self-diagnosed your condition, then you could have a different kind of infection.

More often than not, you will be able to successfully treat and eliminate your yeast infection quite easily. One type of yeast infection that is not so easy to treat is a chronic, or systemic, yeast infection that infiltrates your whole body.

Unfortunately, the mortality rate is quite high in these cases and around 75%. however, systemic Candidiasis is not the same as a yeast overgrowth that occurs in your body also. A yeast overgrowth in your intestinal tract is not the same thing as a chronic, systemic yeast infection. Either way, what needs to be avoided is introducing the yeast into the blood stream.

Here are some simple household Treatment for Thrush that you can do yourself. for your gargle, you may place a tablespoon of cider vinegar in a half cup of warm water and use it the mixture to rinse your mouth 4 times a day. in order to lower the production of Candida fungus, you may want to reduce the amount of carbohydrates and sweets that you intake. The more of these type of foods you take, the more candida fungus accumulates as well. another remedy is by eating garlic or taking any garlic pills. you may even do your own research on how to prevent the spread of yeast. there are alternatives that are non-commercial but are natural and effective remedies. taking and even applying yogurt on the affected areas may also be a big help. Acidophilus capsule content may be mixed with a tablespoon of orange juice to be used as an application to the infected area. you may even use lemon juice and lemon grass which can kill oral thrush in as short as two weeks. these are natural Treatment for Thrush that can be found in your own house.

Tags: treatment for thrush

@FierceBiotech: tiny robots may be next big drug-delivery thing. News | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: A struggling AstraZeneca commits $140M to cancer pact as it inks back-to-back deals. Story | Follow@JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: Takeda doesn’t say how many jobs will be impacted in the move to consolidate in San Diego. Release | Follow @RyanMFierce

@MarkHFierce: Perosphere debuts! it has connections with Brown, Harvard and MIT, among others. Article | Follow @MarkHFierce

> Xconomy reports that Seattle entrepreneur Bruce Montgomery has rounded up $5 million in venture backing for Cardeas, a startup developer. Story

> Australia’s QRx Pharma has struck a deal that gives Actavis U.S. commercialization rights to the pain drug MoxDuo IR. QRx snagged a $6 million upfront in the deal. Release

> GenVec CEO Paul Fischer, Ph.D., is retiring from his post. The biotech has hired a search firm to help out with recruiting a new chief executive. Release

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: EU reins in exports of lethal-injection drugs, barring sale in countries still using death penalty. News | Follow @FiercePharma

> EU imposes new export controls on execution meds. News

> Ranbaxy inks consent decree, sets aside $500M. Item

> FDA joins probe into Gilenya patient’s sudden death. More

Drug Delivery News

> Pfizer to employ Antares drug-delivery tech for mystery product. News

> Perosphere launches with Brown, Harvard and MIT connections. Article

> Say it with lollipops to treat oral thrush. Item

> Eli Lilly advances drug delivery tech deals with Starpharma, Arecor. Story

Biomarkers News

> Biomarker predicts tamoxifen breast cancer response. More

> Urinary serotonin may be key to test for depression. Story

> MicroRNA can help guide cancer treatment. News

> Biomarker predicts tamoxifen breast cancer response. Report

Medical Device News

> Philips, Steris to add 200 jobs in Ohio. Article> Report: GE plans to add 200 engineers in China. Story

> Bard picks up Lutonix for $225M. More

And Finally… Scientists at the Salk Institute say they discovered a “missing link” between the body’s biological clock and sugar metabolism system, pointing the way to possibly eliminating some of the side effects associated with therapies for asthma, allergies and arthritis. Release

Singing the folk song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was one of my favourite caroling traditions, probably because birds featured prominently in the lyrics. It is a quick-paced, cumulative song with roots in both English and French countryside traditions. So as a change from eco-polemics this month, here is a fresh, local look at these old lyrics. (Read to the end to see the final version.)

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to meA partridge in a pear tree.

Partridges and pear trees are not found wild in the lower Mainland, so we need a local game bird and a suitable roost tree—although “in a pear tree” may be an oral corruption of “and a perdix” (“partridge” in French). Ruffed grouse, or ruffie, was a once common bird in the Fraser delta that must now be searched for further up the valley (try Harrison or Chilliwack). In her youth, the Surrey pioneer Margaret Stewart, born 1876, remembered seeing 50 ruffed grouse perched in a cottonwood tree. These birds are a favourite of hunters and apparently taste delicious—so they fit with the Christmas theme of good food in good company.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to meTwo turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

There are two choices here: native mourning doves or the Eurasian collared dove, an immigrant bird that has rapidly spread across the Fraser delta in the last five years. Mourning doves do not like the cold but collared doves have settled in to our (current) climate without a problem. for poetic reasons, I will choose the native bird.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to meThree French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree

No problem here; there are plenty of hens flourishing in lower Mainland farms. I would, of course, pick organic ones and to ensure the French touch I would serve their eggs as oeufs poches.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to meFour colly birds, three French hens, et cetera.

Colly birds were English blackbirds, a type of thrush (as in four-and-twenty-blackbirds baked in a pie), so we could either choose one of our lovely native thrushes such as the varied thrush, American robin, or hermit thrush, or go with a red-winged blackbird. All these birds can be found locally in winter. Some versions of the song use “calling” birds, so since the varied thrush has the most eerie, strange whistle, deeply evocative of misty northwestern forests, this would be my choice.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to meFive gold rings, four colly birds, et cetera.

The five gold rings bring to mind the Winter Olympics. I was not keen on the idea of all that corporate hype and expense, yet when the time came, I greatly enjoyed the warm atmosphere, conviviality, and hospitality shown by all the people flocking to Vancouver and Whistler to celebrate. So I will keep the five gold rings in the spirit of everyone working together for a better world.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to meSix geese a laying, five gold rings, et cetera.

No geese are laying eggs at this time of the year, so the song is a little unscientific here. instead, let’s celebrate the tens of thousands of lesser snow geese that laid their eggs in remote Wrangel Island, Russia, and after raising their young, flew thousands of kilometres to winter in the Fraser delta. Spot them around Brunswick Point, Westham Island, or the Reifel bird sanctuary.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to meSeven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, et cetera.

Swans do swim, in the Fraser River and along the shore, but in mid-winter they are more commonly seen foraging in agricultural fields. Trumpeters, the heaviest of the world’s swans, were on the brink of extinction in the 1930s. their numbers have rebounded steadily since then, thanks to curtailment of hunting and, more recently, proactive agricultural and wildlife habitat programs like those of the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust. People working together led to a great conservation success.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to meEight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, et cetera.

We leave the realms of ornithology and head into cultural matters on the next three days of the carol. These eight milking maids are obviously gainfully employed in one of B.C.’s organic dairy farms in the lower Fraser Valley, producing delicious milk, butter, and yogurt. maybe they sell their produce at local farmers markets—a trend that is becoming more popular and successful every year. Healthy, local food is a great choice for holiday feasts and keeps our farmers in business, so I will keep the phrase, modified to be gender neutral.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to meNine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, et cetera.

“Ladies dancing” brought to mind the native orchids, such as ladies tresses and lady slipper, that bloom along the B.C. coast. In the spring, the beautiful little pink calypso, or fairy slipper, will brighten the woodlands of the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast. She lacks lady in her name, but calypso suggests the power of music and the pageantry of dance, so she gets my vote for the ninth day of Christmas, early in the new year.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to meTen lords a leaping, nine ladies dancing, et cetera.

Local animals, such as frogs, grasshoppers and crickets, that leap on a regular basis are hibernating for winter right now. They all rely on pesticide-free environments and would heartily endorse the current campaign by naturalists and the Cancer Society to curtail the use of cosmetic pesticides – those used by gardeners and others to eliminate species considered unattractive or weedy. give the gift of life.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to meEleven pipers piping, ten lords a leaping, nine ladies dancing, et cetera.

Okay all you Scots out there, the pipers I am thinking of are the huge flocks of dunlin, a small member of the sandpiper family, that are often seen whirling in the sky above Boundary Bay or feeding along the mud flats. their call could, with a bit of latitude, be described as “piping” and their flight formations as they out-maneuver the marauding falcons are one of the great natural wonders of the world.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to meTwelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, et cetera.

Woodpeckers are nature’s most versatile drummers. a northern flicker, one of our larger local woodpeckers, with a big strong beak, has taken to drumming rhythmically on the metal chimney above my bedroom, calling to his true love. I will put him in the carol for the last day of Christmas, as the sight of this handsome garden bird brightens my day.

So in summary, my final verse of a locally flavoured, scientifically accurate, eco-friendly version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, complete with tongue twisters if sadly lacking the alliteration of the original, goes like this:

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to meTwelve flickers drumming, eleven sandpipers piping, ten weeds a pulling, nine calypsos blooming, eight farmers a milking, seven swans a foraging, six geese a flying, five gold rings, four varied thrushes, three organic hens, two mourning doves, and a ruffie in a cottonwood tree.

Anne Murray is a writer and naturalist, and the author of two books on the Fraser River delta—Tracing Our Past: a Heritage Guide to Boundary Bay and a Nature Guide to Boundary Bay—both available at bookstores and from Nature Guides B.C.

Symptoms of oral thrush include the appearance of creamy, white lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks and sometimes on the roof of the mouth, gums and tonsils with a cottage cheese-like lesions and slight bleeding if the lesions are rubbed or scraped. it is understandable that the person infected with oral thrush may be self-conscious and prefer to stay home during this period.

Even though yeast infection in the mouth is generally not life threatening, it is highly advisable to treat it immediately. This article is to introduce several suggestions for oral thrush remedies that can significantly enhance the healing process while at home.

• To eliminate the yeasts and bacteria in the mouth, swish the mouth with warm saltwater at least 3 times a day, especially after meals. This will help clean the mouth of food remnants more effectively. Natural unsweetened yoghurt is also one of the best natural oral thrush remedies as it serves as an antibiotic towards thrush. Retain yoghurt in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
• Garlic and onions possess anti-bacterial properties that can help get rid of mouth thrush. try adding some raw garlic and onions in your diet. Garlic supplements will also do the trick if you have worries about ‘garlic breath’.
• Try to refrain from solid food and consume soft liquid food instead. This is because hard, solid food would further bruise the lesions in the mouth and make it more difficult to heal. Vegetable soups cooked with a variety of bright coloured vegetables like pumpkin, carrots, celery, beetroot and bell peppers are beneficial for the healing process as these vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are vital to help build up the immune system of the person infected with thrush. take vitamin supplements like vitamin E, C and a in a higher dosage to help boost the immune system.
• Sleep early to allow the body and mind to have sufficient rest. a person who is well rested is less prone to physical and emotional stress. it is vital to maintain a healthy physical and emotional well-being as stress is one of the main triggers of thrush. Sleep at least 6 hours a day to ensure that the body has enough rest.
• Stay away from sugary food as yeasts feed on sugar. Consumption of sugar will cause the yeasts in the mouth to spread more rapidly. if you have a sweet tooth and simply can’t live without something sweet, I would recommend that you take some fresh fruits which are high in nutrients and vitamins as opposed to sweet processed food.

Oral thrush should be treated immediately to avoid the yeasts from spreading further into the throat which by then would be difficult to recover. All the oral thrush remedies recommended in this article are only a few of the many ways to cure oral yeast infection. there are many other effective treatments available that could cure oral thrush more rapidly.

University of Otago scientist Prof Richard Cannon, whose internationally known work is helping counter life-threatening fungal infections, has received the Sir John Walsh Research Award.

The annual award, made by the Sir John Walsh Research Institute on behalf of the Otago School of Dentistry, acknowledges excellence over a long period by a staff member at the school.

it also recognised Prof Cannon’s distinguished research contribution to both dentistry and the wider field of medicine.

Prof Cannon said he was “very, very pleased” to receive the award, which also recognised the work of members of his molecular microbiology laboratory research group “over a long period of time”.

he also receives $3000 towards professional development.

Prof Cannon’s research into the micro-organisms that cause oral disease, including oral thrush and some more serious problems, began more than 25 years ago.

this work has since moved in surprising directions, including producing a “groundbreaking technology platform” that has wider implications for Aids patients, cancer research, and countering multimillion-dollar drench resistance problems in veterinary medicine.

it was “quite satisfying” that the research, including into countering antifungal drug resistance, was moving towards identifying potential new drugs that could help patients, and compounds that could also make some existing medications more effective, Prof Cannon said.

Together with students and institute colleagues, he had spent the last decade developing a novel way of introducing proteins from the pathogen Candida albicans, responsible for making the fungus resistant to antifungal agents, into common baker’s yeast, award organisers said.

this enabled partners at overseas research institutions to bombard the yeast cells with hundreds of thousands of compounds in a matter of days. such high-throughput screening enabled researchers to identify compounds which could inhibit the pathogen’s resistance to antifungal drugs.

this method had also identified hundreds of compounds with potential applications for patients who had received organ transplants or who had Aids, leaving them vulnerable to systemic fungal infections.

other institute awards: Postgraduate Publication Award, Mo’men Atieh, $500; Sir John Walsh Research Publication Award, Neil Waddell, $1000 for professional development; Research Support Award, Liz Girvan, up to $2000 for conference attendance; Basic Research Award, Kyoko Niimi, $5000 for continuing research; Clinical Research Award, Associate Prof Warwick Duncan, $5000 for continuing research.

Oral yeast infection or oral thrush is the most common infection suffered by most people. It is caused by Candida fungus which is always present in our body in controlled quantity. Candida lives in wet warm areas of the body like the mouth. The fungus multiply rapidly when the natural balance of the body system is disturbed leading to yeast infection. It is important to cure oral yeast infection as early as possible to avoid other health issues.

Oral thrust manifestations include white lesions on the lining of the mouth including the inner cheeks, tongue and may also spread to your gums, tonsil and throat. The lesions may bleed when rubbed or bumped causing pains to the sufferer. Anyone is at risk but those people with weak immune system are more prone to yeast infections. If not treated, the infection may become a chronic problem and may spread down to your esophagus and stomach that may lead to serious health problems, that is why it is important to cure oral yeast infection as early as possible.

The infection may cause painful swallowing and you may experience difficulty eating. It is important to seek medical or professional advice to cure oral yeast infection before it could result to other health problems. here are some tips to quickly cure oral yeast infection:

Antifungal medicines are common treatment for oral yeast infection. your doctor may recommend antifungal drugs in tablet or liquid form that will best suit your situation. some antifungal drugs have side effects causing other health issues like liver damage and it is important to take antifungal medicines under the supervision and advice of your doctor.

Eating the right diet, exercise and getting enough sleep will make your body healthy and will boost your immune system. If you have strong and healthy body, you have more resistance to infections.

Unsweetened yogurt helps control the growth of the fungus causing the infection. this is one drug-free treatment that you can do at home to cure oral yeast infection.

Starving the Candida fungus will also help you cure oral yeast infection. Avoid sweetened foods or sugar that feeds and encourages the growth of the fungus. You also have to avoid foods with yeast like bread

The answer to yesterday’s mystery is … HIV/AIDS! The patient had two different infections in his mouth as well: oral hairy leukoplakia on the tongue, and candidiasis (thrush) on the roof of the mouth. many of you identified the leukoplakia: Rich S., colleen (with a little c), Patti Ann, and Jecor16. Still others were able to name the thrush: Martha, colleen (with a little c), sallad, Meg, gg, and palmtree435. and finally, some of you also suspected the final diagnosis of HIV/AIDS: O’B1, ColorMaven, Kimberly Helton, Donna A., Ashley, Peaceable Traveller, Angelita, Debbie, Erin, JP, Michelle RN, Myra, and Theresa.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome). The virus is spread by exchange of bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Once the virus infects its host, it kills CD4+ T cells, a type of white blood cell that is a critical player in the immune system. when the virus has eliminated too many CD4+ T cells, the body can no longer defend itself adequately from other infections. Once an HIV positive person’s CD4+ T cell count falls below 200 cells per microliter of blood they have a diagnosis of AIDS. Patients with HIV are also said to have AIDS once they are diagnosed with one of  25 opportunistic infections that are common in people with low-functioning immune systems.

The white plaque on the side of our patient’s tongue is called oral hairy leukoplakia, which is a growth caused by the Epstein Barr Virus. it is a common way for patients with HIV to first present to their doctor. The plaques on the roof of our patient’s mouth are called thrush, caused by growth of a yeast called Candida. it tends to infect patients with decreased immune function. In fact, growth of Candida in the esophagus, which our patient may have upon further investigation, is an AIDS defining opportunistic infection. having both leukoplakia and thrush raises our suspicion of a diagnosis of HIV infection. our patient’s history of intravenous drug use, his thin appearance, and his fatigue can also be clues to a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.

Patients with HIV/AIDS can be very effectively treated by highly active anti-retroviral therapy, or HAART. HAART targets the virus at multiple different steps in its life cycle to eliminate it from the body. Patients with HIV/AIDS can life essentially normal life spans with the advent of HAART. World AIDS Day is December 1st, this Thursday. Wear your red ribbon!