[Question #12826] Risk of HIV
4 months ago
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Hello, I'm a female who had an exposure to someone's blood. This guy and I are fooling around in bed (no sex) and I gave him a 2 min blowjob (no ejaculation) and licked his scrotum area once. However, I saw that he had a small eczema wound that was not healed. The wound was the size of a small pimple on his scrotum. It wasn't gushing out blood in the sense where it drooled out of the wound, but, there was blood confounded within the spot of the wound. But when I put my fingers over it and lifted it up, there was little to no blood residue on my finger. I licked it once and stopped everything, so no further exposures.
After a week, I got mild cold like symptoms that lasted for about 10 days. Then, for five days I was fine. However, recently (3rd week since incident), I developed a moderate fever (99.9 to 100.8), congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat (achy and comes and goes), mild muscle aches, mild fatigue (still working). No rash or swollen lymph nodes. I went to an urgent care and they said its likely another cold/flu strain that i caught even though I was just sick.
1) Would this quality as blood exposure and would testing be recommended?
2) In the case that he had HIV, what would be my risk if he was detectable vs undetectable?
3) Is back to back cold infections really more likely than to get hiv from this type of exposure?
4) Would the risk change if it was freshly scratched blood (say in the last 5 min prior to licking)?
I appreciate your honest and expert feedback.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
4 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. The events you describe did not put you at risk for HIV or any other blood borne infections. I am confident the flu-like illness you recently experienced was unrelated to the events you describe. In response to your specific questions:
1) Would this quality as blood exposure and would testing be recommended?
I see no need for concern and no need for testing for HIV or other STIs related to the encounter you have described.
2) In the case that he had HIV, what would be my risk if he was detectable vs undetectable?
Persons with HIV who are on therapy and have undetectable levels of HIV cannot transmit their HIV to others.
3) Is back to back cold infections really more likely than to get hiv from this type of exposure?
There are no data to suggest that the presence of another infection such as influenza, COVID or other community acquired viral infections changes the likelihood of HIV transmission in exposed persons.
4) Would the risk change if it was freshly scratched blood (say in the last 5 min prior to licking)?
No, ingestion of blood is not associated with risk for HIV.
I hope this information is helpful. Please don't worry. EWH
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4 months ago
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Thank you for the insight doctor. Just some general follow ups and questions on my end.
You mention that ingestion of blood or blood exposure to mouth is negligible and there is no need to test. However, don’t healthcare workers get pep and tested extensively if they have a blood exposure to either eyes or mouth? That was the protocol I last heard so just wanted to know why mg risk is not significant to get tested?
Also, is the chance of a back to back viral infection like the cold a more plausible scenario than hiv transmission from this exposure? The urgent care doc mentioned that it’s possible, but I found it hard to believe as that’s never happened to me before.
Given that my mouth is a mucous membrane and there could be abrasions from flossing or brushing teeth, is this exposure truly no risk?I understand that things like vaginal or oral might be low risk, but is mine truly no risk (similar to how one cannot get infected with hiv from blood to skin contact?)
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
4 months ago
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I’m not sure where you got the information you mention. I have never heard of administration of PEP to persons who ingest blood. Such a policy would have no scientific basis and there is evidence to the contrary. Eye exposures are handled on a case by case. Protocols vary from place to place. Where did you hear the misinformation you cite?
As I mentioned above there are no data to suggest that back-to-back viral infections would enhance risk for HIV.
Your 3rd question is repetitive using slightly different words. The answer will not change. There are no data to suggest flossing or brushing teeth increases risk for HIV related to oral exposures to persons with untreated HIV.
I’m sorry you’re having trouble accepting the information I’ve provided.
One follow up remaining. EWH
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4 months ago
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Hi doctor, thank you for the information. I trust your expertise and understand that the risk is not warranted here.
I had a couple of follow up questions regarding hiv transmission in general.
If a man were to have a cut on his finger that was there for at least a couple of hours (or at least not actively bleeding) and he fingers me, what's the risk of HIV?
Whats the risk of infection from getting fingered by a finger with dry skin cuts with no active bleeding?
I'm a caretaker at a senior home so this question kinda pertains to me. But, if I were to accidentally get blood from an HIV pos patient with a high viral load on my finger (on intact skin) and there is some dry residues still left on my fingers, and then I later use that finger to vaginally finger another girl, would they be at risk of HIV?
In what circumstances would me being fingered by someone result in me possibly contracting HIV from them? AKA, what should I be looking out for in terms of someone's finger health if I want to eliminate any possibly of catching HIV from them regardless of their status?
Thank you.
4 months ago
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Sorry also wanted to add that in my first question, I was referring to an HIV pos man with a high viral load who had a cut on his finger that was not healed, but at least not actively bleeding.
Thank you.
4 months ago
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Another apologies but for I made a typo on the 2nd question.
I meant what's the risk of hiv from an hiv pos man with a high viral load who had dry skin cuts and had MINOR active bleeding (like oozing/weeping blood from a cut).
Thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
4 months ago
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Final responses. I think you are worrying unnecessarily. Following these replies the thread will be closed. Please do not return with further anxiety-driven questions. If you do, your question may not be answered and your posting fee will not be returned.
Whats the risk of infection from getting fingered by a finger with dry skin cuts with no active bleeding?
Zero. This happens all the time and there has never be a proven case of transmission. That is why the WHO, CDC and all experts state that receipt or participating in masturbation is NO RISK, even if your partner is infected.
---I'm a caretaker at a senior home so this question kinda pertains to me. But, if I were to accidentally get blood from an HIV pos patient with a high viral load on my finger (on intact skin) and there is some dry residues still left on my fingers, and then I later use that finger to vaginally finger another girl, would they be at risk of HIV?
As a care provider, you are supposed to wear gloves. Even if you did not and you got the blood from a person with untreated HIV and a high viral load on your finger and skin the is no risk to you or to future partners from the sort of exposure you describe.
In what circumstances would me being fingered by someone result in me possibly contracting HIV from them? AKA, what should I be looking out for in terms of someone's finger health if I want to eliminate any possibly of catching HIV from them regardless of their status?
This is a repetitive question using slightly different words. The words NO RISK are single syllable words.
Your follow up questions do not change the response. Please take a deep breath and put your unfounded anxieties aside. EWH