Could persistent high WBC and tongue sores suggest HIV?

Question

Hi doctor,

My routine blood report is as follows. WBC - 13700, neutrophils - 76%, lymphocytes - 19%, eosinophils - 02%, monocytes - 03%, basophils - 0%, RBC- 4.5, HCT - 39.8, MCV - 84.5, MCH - 27, MCHC - 32, Hb - 12.5, platelets - 410000, and vitamin B12 - 184.

WBC is above the maximum for over a period of one year now. Last year, when I was ill, I got some rashes on my hands and legs. My periods are irregular, and my bleeding is too low. Seven months back, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and vitamin B12, D, and folic acid deficiency. I had five injections of vitamin B12, but I am still deficient in vitamin B12. For over seven months, I have been experiencing left-sided throat, ear, jaw, and teeth pain. I took many antibiotics from different ENT doctors and did endoscopy and sonography as well, but it was of no use at all. Also, my tongue sores with increased foliate papillae. Am I infected with HIV?

Kindly guide.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:

Elevated WBC (white blood cell) count is secondary to increased neutrophils. Neutrophils here appear to be increased secondary to infections.
Irregular periods and low bleeding were possibly due to hypothyroidism.
Reduced nutrition could have led to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. Reduced sun exposure could have led to vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are never stored in the body in large quantities. They belong to a group of water-soluble vitamins. Anything taken in excess usually goes off in urine. You need to be on regular supplements, and improvement with nutrition is essential.
Tongue sores and increased foliate papillae could be due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Also, stress increases sores in the mouth.
Pain on the left side of the face could be due to stress (tension). As there is no fever or ear or nose discharge, you need a physical evaluation by a neurologist for any neurological cause, possibly migraine.
However, I can safely confirm, none of these are symptoms of HIV. All are normal. Reduced stress will reduce all the values.
I hope you are getting treatment for gastric reflux. You need to relax, avoid spicy food, and take food regularly.
Medication for the thyroid needs to be on a regular basis.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out in case of further queries.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Neutrophils are not affected by HIV infection. It mostly affects lymphocytes.
Increased neutrophils indicate acute inflammation or most probably bacterial. The lymph nodes would take some time to reduce.
Lymph node enlargement will be painful in many conditions, and possibly in HIV, too. In HIV, multiple groups of lymph nodes will be enlarged, usually in the middle stage. If you have lymph nodes enlarged in the region of the axilla and inguinal too, then HIV can be thought of, and an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test can be done.
As the lymph nodes are moving, it is possibly not cancer. At present, it is still a bacterial infection.
To make sure the diagnosis of HIV, get an ELISA test. If negative, then get a lymph node FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) or biopsy to confirm the cause of enlargement.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.