[Question #13832] Scratching - HIV?

 
Avatar photo
2 days ago
Good Afternoon, Doctors

I have done some Googling and looked at your answers on the forum. I think I know the answer to my questions, but would be grateful if you can confirm.

I went to lunch on Monday and sat outside. There was a stray cat that kept walking around the table.

When I got back to the office I noticed large insect-like bites: one on my arm and two on my cheek. They looked like mosquito bites, but I think they may have been courtesy of fleas from the cat. 

The bites were very itchy that evening. I scratched the tops off each, which caused them to weep and bleed slightly.

I am conscious that I had not washed my hands before scratching the bites and the possibility of touching contaminated HIV surfaces beforehand.

I also suffer with acne. Whilst scratching the bites on my cheeks, I caused a couple of pimples to actively bleed - one of them heavily and it took a few minutes to stop. I wiped away the blood using my finger before I applied tissue paper.

Am I at risk of HIV or can I move on?

Thank you
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 days ago
Welcome to our forum. Thank you for your questions. Thank you as well for reviewing past answers on the forum which are left in place in order to provide information for persons with questions such as yours. I do not know whether the recommendations you found on the forum are the same as the recommendations you found on Google or not. Often statements made on Google are incorrect and we spend much time trying to correct them.

You are not at risk for HIV from the events you describe. Over 30 years ago there was discussion about whether insects such as mosquitoes might transfer HIV from person to person or not and since then scientific evidence is proven conclusively that that is not the case. Similarly, we now are completely confident that HIV is not transmitted through contact with potentially contaminated surfaces or transfer on one person‘s hands to another. None of the activities that you describe raise any concerns regarding HIV. There is no reason to worry and no reason for testing. EWH.
---
Avatar photo
2 days ago
Dr Hook - thank you for your answer. I would certainly prefer to hear the advice of STI experts like yourselves as opposed to views online. I think Googling can cause panic.

As I understand it, there is:

  • NO RISK for HIV from scratching bug or mosquito bites (even if HIV-fluids were on my hands and the bites weep / bleed)?

  • NO RISK for HIV from touching bleeding pimples (even if HIV-fluids were on my hands)?

  • NO RISK for HIV from popping pimples and wiping away blood with my finger on top of the pimple (even if HIV-fluids were on my hands)?

  • NO RISK for HIV from putting fingers in my mouth after touching a potentially contaminated surface (i.e door handle, keyboard etc.)?

Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
2 days ago
Good work.  You have accurately summarized things.  None of the actions you describe put you at risk for HIV in any way.  Nothing to worry about .  EWH---