Ontario HIV Clinics' Fact Sheet Oral Hairy LeukoplakiaWhat is it? Oral hairy leukoplakia is a white thickening or coating of the lining of the mouth. It looks like white vertical folds or ridges. These ridges are almost always
located on the sides of the tongue, although sometimes they can be found under the tongue or on the inside of the cheek. Oral hairy leukoplakia may look like oral candidiasis (thrush). Thrush can be scraped
off. The white ridges of oral hairy leukoplakia do not scape off. Oral hairy leukoplakia occurs in people who have HIV and who have moderate to severe immune system damage. What do I look for?
Oral hairy leukoplakia does not cause any symptoms. It does not affect taste and does not cause pain or discomfort. If it becomes very heavy or noticeable, it can be treated.
Can Oral Hairy Leukoplakia be prevented? There is no prevention for this condition.
How is it treated? Oral hairy leukoplakia does not need to be treated because it rarely causes any medical problems.. However, sometimes it will get smaller or go away if a person takes ACYCLOVIR
(Zovirax). References Sande, MA, Volberding, PA. (1995). The Medical Management of AIDS. W.B. Saunders Co. pp. 231-232.
Ontario HIV Clinics' Network, May 1996 |
