Salivary Glands Swelling And Hiv Posted: 03-27-06 15:53pm
Is salivary glands swelling a symptom of
hiv?
I am a 51 y/o female that wake up every
morning with swelling of my submandibular
glands which last thru out the day. I
have visited a ent phy. And was diagnosed
with sialolithiasis(without an xray) based
soley on the symptoms I gave the doctor.
I was told to suck on lemmon drops,
massage glands and to discontinue using
the otc meds. I was taking for my
allergies(i.E..Sudafed, benedryl..)
because they were drying up my mucous
system. I followed the doctor's
instructions, but to no avail, I am still
having the problem. Sometimes when I
massage the glands they swell larger and
remain swollen practically all day.
Sometimes the saliva comes out like a
thick string of white rubbery looking
mucous. I have to sometimes pull it from
the duct with a tweezer. I was told by
someone that salivary gland swelling is a
symptom of hiv. I do not have fever or
diarrhea. Also, I must mention that I am
a weekend alcohol(gin) drinker
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Finess150
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 191 Location: Kent, UK
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Hiv Posted: 03-28-06 08:13am
Firstly, what is your risk of having
become infected with hiv? Have you had
unprotected sex, or shared a syringe? Are
you confirmed as being hiv+ already?
Secondly, no, swollen salivary glands are
not an hiv symptom.
Thirdly, could you explain why mentioning
that you drink gin is important? I drink
often, but I don't relate it to any kind
of hiv situation.
Thanks.
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SHANITA MILLS
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 3
Salivary Glands -hiv Posted: 03-28-06 09:41am
Finess150
i had unprotected sex approximately 10
years ago and I have not taken a test for
hiv. I mention the alcohol drinking
because I thought that could also be a
reason for my
salivary gland swelling. When I read
that swollen glands is a symptom, I
assumed any and all glands including
salivary.
Thanks for your response.
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Finess150
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Posts: 191 Location: Kent, UK
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Right Posted: 03-28-06 10:36am
Thanks, I can compose a better response
now.
Hiv is a virus which attacks the immune
system (as i'm sure you realise), and part
of the immune system is the network of
lymph nodes. You will find these on the
side of the neck, in the abdomen and
groin, armpits. They attempt to harbour
any infection, and when they do, they
swell. Salivary glands, and indeed any
other glands, are not related to the
immune system and do not swell as a result
of infection.
I strongly doubt that a few gins of a
weekend will cause any medical problem
unless consumption is excessive.
Your unprotected episode ten years ago is
of little worry, but there are certain
things you must consider:
1. Each episode of unprotected sex
with a person who is hiv positive carries
roughly a 1 to 3% risk of infection (it's
a difficult virus to transmit). Since
you only had one encounter, the odds are
very much in your favour, and even more so
if you don't know for certain that they
are positive (statistically speaking, it
is more likely that they are negative).
2. It is common for people who are
hiv+ and do not recieve treatment to have
aids related symptoms at 8 to ten years
after primary infection. The fact that
you haven't should be of some comfort.
However, strictly speaking, you had
unprotected sex with someone of unknown
status and medically speaking, that
warrants testing.
Whilst I would suggest that it is highly
unlikely that you are hiv+, a test would
certainly alleviate your fears. I am
confident of a negative result.
