Scary News

C.,
Put the computer mouse down and step AWAY!!!!!!! Sorry, but online medical advise can be VERY scary. Yes there are reputable places to look for once you have a diagnosis- our practice directs people to places all of the time, but just putting in a quick symptom or two is NOT the way to go.

Fungus loves to grow in warm, moist, dark places. HE may have had some reflux which changed the pH in his esophagus thus giving the fungus a chance to grow. Uncomfortable for him, but fairly easy to treat.

AIDS is fairly uncommon in children in the US. In 15 years in a very busy MD's office we have seen 2 cases of HIV+ kids- both born to moms who had no prenatal care and did not know they were HIV+ themselves. The 3 or 4 moms who KNEW they were HIV+ when they got pregnant and stayed on their meds all had HIV- babies.

Relax- follow your nurses advice when she calls back :-)

D.

Hi, C..
I doubt very seriously that your son has aids. If you look at any symptoms they pretty much all say any sickeness or disease or whatever can be caused by a weakened immune system or (AIDS). I have been told by friends and my husband to quit looking symptoms and so on up online because they all have horrible things like that on them.
I'm sure everything is fine.
Let us know what you find out.
S.

My son had a thrush type of fungus in his throat twice when he was 14/15 years old. It was treated with a heavy dose of Diflucan and responded beautifully. I, too, looked on-line and discovered all sorts of scary things and potential causes. The poster who said "do not look on-line" is so right!!! If you're concerned, please visit with your doctor and/or his nurse. I normally never look on-line for illnesses; but, this was so very unusual that I did. I then wished I hadn't! As your son has recently undergone several tests if there was something more serious, the doctor would have already alerted you to that possibility. My advice is to speak with your doctor's office and follow their suggested course of treatment. It's so scary with little ones!

It is true that folks with AIDs are more likely to have this fungal overgrowth. BUT, there are many people with this problem (myself included) that do not have AIDs. It is not uncommon for folks with a weaker immune system to have these fungal overgrowths since we often have a lower level of the healthy bacteria that keep the bad stuff in check. Folks that have been on antibiotics for any period of time develop these problems. The problem is quite annoying, but it can be managed with prescription drugs (Diflucan, Nystatin, or other anti-fungals (not antibiotics)), supplements (e.g., Probiotics) and a diet that doesn't feed the bad stuff (i.e., no processed foods, no sugar, no yeast, etc.). Also, did they test your son for celiac disease? That also correlates with a predisposition for the sorts of problems you're describing your son having.

C.,

Don't look at online medical advice! It will only needlessly scare you. Thrush can be caused by any number of reasons and it is easily cleared up with antibiotics. As the other poster mentioned, a weakened immune system is one reason, which your child could have from a cold or a recent round of vaccines. Talk to your doctor so they can put your mind at ease.

first of all try not to worry too much. stay off the internet, that will only make mattters worse, thrush is usually more common in adults with hiv or aids, yes babies get it, my daughter had it, it is a fungus, just like a yeast infection. the reason i am writing is that my niece had this sam thing almost, she is 13, she was throwing every thing up though. had the bacteria and all of that. come to find out it was something in her esophogus, it had actually thickened and they had to go in and cut some of it down, the muscle had overgrown, my sister had taken her to a doctor out of medical city dallas. they were great. she is fine now and can eat normally and everything. she had to have a feeding tube for months before she had the surgery and can anything now!try to get more informed and everything will be ok. even get a second opinion.

Anyone who has breastfed for any length of time can tell you all about thrush and how common it is for both mother and child. Go to any LLL meeting. ;) I had a dear friend battle it for over a year. Never once was HIV brought up. There are a lot of symptoms, conditions that are included but not limited HIV.

Think about it... You were more than likely tested while you were pregnant and, if you had been positive, would have surely been told so before the baby was born. I agree with the previous posters: step away from the keyboard and take a deep breath. It's going to be ok I'm sure.