[Question #3024] Risk from exposure????
92 months ago
|
Hello Doc. As i understand that HIV/HBC and HCV occur mainly through sexual transmission and drug use, i had a unique exposure which i would like you to comment and tell me if I need to get tested for. My dog has a habit of jumping onto people and holding them by his paws, which sometimes causes unintentional bleeding. I took him to the store today and he was off the leash. He jumped on another stranger i close by and around 2 minutes later, jumped on me. I had an intramuscular injection taken before stopping at the store given by a doctor for my last dose of HPV. so the injection site was 15 mins fresh. also my dog scratched my arm and it did cause abrasions, but no profuse bleeding. Is HIV or Hepatitis spread this way?? as in, from the stranger the blood would come on to my dog's nail, which he jumped on caauing abrasions, giving a site for blood to enter my bloodstream?? I would be glas to hear your comments and please let me know if i should get tested for HIV and Hepatitis?? please help!! thanks
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
92 months ago
|
Welcome to our Forum. HIV and hepatitis viruses are transmitted only through direct sexual contact or injection of infected material deep into tissue. Scrapes, cuts, etc. do not lead to transmission despite that it seems logical that they might. Even if infected blood or genital secretions were to get onto a site where you had just had an injection, there would be no appreciable risk for you to become infected with HIV or hepatitis. That your dog may have picked something up and transmitted it to you to put you at risk for infection is still more unlikely. I see no reason for concern from this nor any reason for testing, even in the unlikely circumstance that the person your dog jumped on had either infection (most people do not). EWH
---
---
92 months ago
|
Thank You for your valuable input. Actually the dog isn't mine. It's my friend's dog. He found him a year back. He scratched me as i said, and i have superficial abrasions. My main concern was cleared by you. But just as a feedback, do you think I should take shots for rabies as well? When I asked my friend if the dog was vaccinated, he did say that the dog was vaccinated. But just to be on the safer side?? Or i should totally ignore this and move on.
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
92 months ago
|
I am not a rabies expert but typically rabies is transmitted by dogs which have not been vaccinated and in their saliva. From the sound of things, not much to worry about here. EWH
---
---
92 months ago
|
I understand that and appreciate your valuable response. I'll be glad if you can provide me with certain informations solely for my knowledge and awareness. I have been sexually active and always had safe protected sex. Also have never used drugs and intend to keep it that way. I have recently gotten my STDs checked, and everything came back negative. What I want to know is:
1) If my boyfriend mastrubates and fingers me with the same hands, can it spread HIV/HBV/HCV/HPV??? ( considering his semen is present on his fingers.
2) Does genital HPV spread through hand-genital contact?? my ex boyfriend had some lesion on the forearm and he said they were warts, but i dont know if they were due to HPV. assuming they were, does HPV on hand be transmitted to my genitals through hand-genital contact?
3)Can HIV/HCV/HBV spread via surface contamination? eg. my new room-mate, sleeps naked below the waist, I really feel gross since we share the same bed. We have different blankets, but her genitals come in direct contact with the bedding. so the next time when i sit on her side of the bed, i really feel grossed out.
4) Also, is using public toilets safe enough? I read somewhere that if menstrual blood is present on the toilet seat it can spread HIV and other blood-borne diseases, ever since i have begun using toilet seat sanitisers, but is it a risk for transmission?
Thank You in advance
92 months ago
|
6) Also, is washing clothes with somebody else's whose HIV status is unknown, considered safe??? I have new room-mates, so i have these questions that must be sounding stupid. But i appreciate your patience and generosity to help millions like me. :)
![]() |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
92 months ago
|
These will be the final responses to your questions and as per Forum Guidelines, this thread will be closed later today. As these questions are quite general and off topic, answers will be brief however I would invite you to look at other posts accessible to all on our site as many of your questions are discussed in detail and the information may prove helpful to you.
1. There are no data to suggest that HIV/HBV/HCV are spread by transfer of genital secretions on one person's hands to another person's genitals. Similarly while there are fewer data, transfer of HPV is unlikely.
2 See above. Also please realize that the type of HPV that typically causes lesions on non-genital parts fo the body, like the arm, do not typically infect genital sites and vis versa.
3. No, this infections are not spread on bed sheets or through surface contaminations.
4. STIs are not acquired from indirect contact with infectious secretions such as might be encountered on a toilet seat.
6. Contamination in the process of washing clothes will not transmit any STI, including HIV
This will conclude this thread. Take care. EWH