[Question #2775] Infection chances?
94 months ago
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Hi Doctor. I'm in my mid-twenties. I have a neighbour who is HIV Positive. She came over with her dog to my place. Her dog bit her recently and he bit me too today. I'm really scared of getting hiv. I have been tested last month which came back negative. i have not had any sexual encounters in the past year. Could hiv from the owner pass on to the dog and the same dog biting me pass on the infection? i googled and they said there may or may not be an association. if there is a slightest possibility please tell me. i will get tested at 6 weeks again. awating your reply. thank you for being supportive to so many of us.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
94 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
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You are not at risk of HIV in this circumstance. HIV is harder to transmit than you seem to think. here is almost never any risk except through unprotected sex, shared drug injection equipment or, for babies, being born to an infected mother. From the earliest days of the world wide HIV/AIDS epidemic, i.e. for more than 3 decades, it has been known that the household contacts of people with HIV never catch the virus (except for those who are also sex or needle-sharing partners). That's true even after years and years of sharing toilets, kitchens, towels, and so on; and having other day to day personal contact, like hugging, kissing, helping treat minor injuries, and so on.
As for a dog bite, there has never been a reported case of HIV transmission. If your neighbor's bite was severe, with lots of blood, and if the dog immediately (within a few seconds) then bit you, perhaps there could have been a risk. If that happened, you should see a doctor or clinic right away for possible anti-HIV treatment to prevent infection. However, I doubt this is necssary.
You don't say exactly what sort of information you found on Google searching. But most likely it was mistaken. (Online searching about HIV and its risks should be limited to professional sites. You can easily find many claims about nonexistant risks.)
Assuming the dog bites were minor, you do not need HIV testing. Of course you are free to get tested if you would like the additional reassurance of a negative test result. If you decide to do it, have an antigen-antibody ("4th generation") blood test 6 weeks after the bite. But if so, stay relaxed in the meantime. If somehow I were in your situation, I would not feel any need for testing.
I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
94 months ago
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Thank you for your response. The bite was minor and not immediate. I came across a site, stating there has been a case reported with dog bite being the possible cause. on the other hand, I read dog was not considered a transmission medium. So this left me highly confused.
the bite has not caused severe bleeding since i pulled my hand out at my earliest. though i fear of still getting the infection. The dog for sure did not bite the owner in the 10 minutes hat he was at my place. I felt a lil awkward to get the exact details from her regarding her bite, to avoid social stigma and not hurting her in anyway. So yes, assuming that the dog had just bitten the owner before coming over, it was roughly around 5-10 mins since he was in my house and bit me. Would you get tested if you were me? sorry but i cant seem to think straight. your opinion would surely make a difference. thank you.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
94 months ago
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I would not conclude anything meaningful from a web report of a single case with dog bite as a "possible" cause, especially if it was not a professionally organized and moderated site. Personal testimony of suspected atypical transmission almost always is either knowingly false or mistaken, e.g. when someone is unaware a regular sex partner has been at risk. In such circumstances, people look for alternative or face-saving explanations. And even if it were true, what would it mean that a single case might have occurred among the millions and millions of HIV infected people around the world?
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In any case, it sounds like there was little or no bleeding, and this was a zero risk event. As I said above, I definitely would not get tested myself if somehow I were in your situation.
94 months ago
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Thank you so much. that was comforting.
I just noticed some pubic hair on my pot seat. it was probably of the same girl whom i mentioned before. is there a possibility that it might have touched my genitals and put me at risk? i used the bathroom immediately after she did.
94 months ago
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Also, is there a possibility of the virus contaminating the food or water if 1-2 drops of blood is mixed in it accidentally? and consumed instantly?
94 months ago
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I'm more concerned about water than food. sorry to bug you with my questions, but i know little about hiv soread other than sex and drugs.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
94 months ago
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You are obviously obsessed with HIV out of proportion to actual risks. There simply are no risks of HIV infrection from the kinds of exposure you have mentioned. Swallowing HIV carries little risk. For example, babies nursed by infected moms swallow a few ounces of HIV contaminated milk every day. After 6 months, 85% of them remain free of HIV. Also, the non-sex partner household contacts of people with HIV are never infected themselves, even after years of sharing kitchens, toilets, eating utensils, and the like.
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You really needn't worry about any of this. If you find you continue to do so despite this reasoned, science based advice and reassurance, and if it interferes with your life and happiness, professional counseling would be the logical next step. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.
That concludes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. Best wishes to you.