A woman with unknown HIV status is found to have a white film on her tongue, which when scraped away, reveals smooth, red patches on the tongue and buccal mucos a. She asks what she should do to treat this white film. The best response is:

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This patient most likely has a pseudomembranous form of oral candidiasis. The overgrowth of yeast is best treated with local antifungal therapy, such as Nystatin or clotrimazole. Clients should be instructed to keep the medication in their mouth as long as possible, as effectiveness depends on contact time with the oral mucosa. Since oral candidiasis may occur in HIV-negative patients, usually with other systemic disease or immunocompromised state, starting antiretroviral medications would be premature. Remember that hydrogen peroxide rinses actually increase the risk of oral candidiasis.

A Woman with Unknown HIV Status Is Found to Have