bumps on back - HIV?

Specialties Disease

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Hey all,

Ok I should know this but oh well. I have a friend who says that whenever he sees guys with bumps (tumors) on their back, he says there's a high probability that they have HIV.

My first thought was he was talking about KS, but then he said that the bumps were the same color as the skin. I'm thinking maybe non-hodgkins lymphoma, but aren't they pink tumors and could they appear anywhere on back or just in heavy lymph node areas?

Thanks.

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Hey all,

Ok I should know this but oh well. I have a friend who says that whenever he sees guys with bumps (tumors) on their back, he says there's a high probability that they have HIV.

My first thought was he was talking about KS, but then he said that the bumps were the same color as the skin. I'm thinking maybe non-hodgkins lymphoma, but aren't they pink tumors and could they appear anywhere on back or just in heavy lymph node areas?

Thanks.

I haven't heard of anything on the back but I have heard that a swollen gland behind the ear is an indication of possible hiv infection. Who knows though, it cvould be anything.
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Specializes in Educator.

Right. It could be MANY things- so why the big interest in deciding HIV must be the diagnosis????

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think if someone is concerned with this - they probably need to see their doctor.

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I think if your friend is so concerned about other people he needs to either get better informed or examine his own life to find out why he is so concerned with what's going on with others.

...Kaposi's is never skin colored, It is characterized by purple, red, or brown discoloration to the lesion.

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Specializes in Research,Peds,Neuro,Psych,.

If it was KS or lymphoma, the person would not only be likely to have HIV, but AIDS, and would be very ill.

Bumps on the back could be ANYTHING.

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I think your friend is correct about the assumption. I know two persons with HIV who are on HIV medications and they have developed, I'll call them lumps on their backs. They are not discolorations--just pronounced skin elevations.

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Specializes in Flight, ICU, Infectious Disease,HIV/AIDS.

Howdy,

To answer your question regarding bumps on a HIV + persons back, you'll have to elucidate more information from your friend, what specifically do they consider a bump? I'm going to assume these "Bumps" that are being referred to are not lymph like nodes. Most Likely he is referring to a clinical condition termed LIPODYSTROPHY. This occurs in HIV+ persons who have been on HARRT therapy for many years. So yes, you can tell someone who is HIV+ by the fat redistribution on his or her body. You commonly will see it in the face, top of the neck (referred to as a "Buffalo Hump"), abdomen, arms, thighs and HIV + women will have changes in their breasts.

Peace and Harmony My Friends....

K.H., ACRN (HIV/AIDS Nurse)

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Specializes in M/S,Tele,HIV/AIDS,Research,IV Therapy.

Kulassky76 hit the nail on the head. With the Lipodystropy satement. I was involved as a study coordinator for the very first treatment of Lipoatrophy of the face for HIV + patients with a drug called New-Fill (now Sculptra).

My Partner of 11 years is HIV + and suffers from severe Lipodystrophy. The only thing I could think of is because of the redistribution of fat may be causing Lipomas to form. Will keep my eyes open for other information.

M.K. (ANAC) Association of Nurses in AIDS Care member.

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I have heard of this happening in folks with reall high triglyceride levels as well

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Well that might be true. I went to the doctor awhile back and had my blood checked, and eventually found out that I have high triglycerides.

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