Can Floaters In Eye, Drainage From Back Of Throat And Seborrhea Dermatitis Be Indications Of HIV?

Posted on Tue, 31 Dec 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 Answered on

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I never had any type of skin conditions before. So about some time between late XXXXXXX 2013 I woke up with my beard have filled with white patches thru out it. I also notice my eyes having floaters in the corners and I started to have issue with my tongue and drainage from the top and back of my throat.So in august I was diagnosis Seborrhea Dermatitis by a biopsy . I have what seems like very light patches that are round in shape over both cheeks and in my beard. I under stand that this could be hiv. Reason I ask is that I have in the past had unprotected sex back in 2010 once and twice in 2012. So could someone help me with this issue. I am taking the anti fungal meds that the dermatologist should I worry about hiv.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 hours later)

Brief Answer: Seborrheicdermatitis common even in absence of HIV Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to XXXXXXX Thanks for posting your query. Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common skin disease. Anybody can have it. This type of dermatitis exists so common even in Pre-AIDS era (before 35 years). This condition is not an AIDS defining disease. This condition may get exaggerated in HIV disease, that too after not less than 5 years after the HIV infection (After considerable reduction in CD4 count), not earlier than this. So with this finding alone, one cannot be labelled as a HIV patient. HIV blood screening is the only way to exclude or confirm HIV disease. Don't get panicky about HIV and get cleared with blood test. Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar