Hello Doctor,
Could the symptoms exhibited by the 5-year-old boy, including chronic mouth ulcers, constant diarrhea, and vomiting, potentially be indicative of HIV infection, considering his reported exposure to a contaminated toilet seat at Costco three days prior?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr.Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
1. HIV is primarily transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk, not through casual contact or exposure to feces.
2. The symptoms described (mouth ulcers, diarrhea, vomiting) are nonspecific and could be indicative of various viral or bacterial infections, common in children.
3. HIV infection typically presents with a broader range of symptoms over a longer period, often including fever, rash, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes, which are not mentioned in this case.
4. Given the lack of direct evidence linking the reported exposure to HIV transmission and the absence of typical HIV symptoms, the likelihood of HIV infection in this scenario is very low.
Thanks
