[Question #4212] Toilet paper exposure, possible blood

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83 months ago
A week ago my 8 year old was using a public restroom at the mall. She was having a hard time unrolling the toilet paper and as I went over to help she had gotten it. I saw what looked like a dark stain on it and before I could stop her from using it she wiped. After the fact she said she saw something dark also but didn't think anything of it. My concern is if it was fresh HIV blood if she is at risk since it would have made contact with her genital area. I have taken her to two doctors. The first rattled off all the std's she was exposed to and said she needs testing in a few months. The second doctor said no testing and not to worry even if it was fresh blood. An online doctor said she needs to be tested and to bathe her in aneseptic. I'm really confused and scared about the conflicting information. I know that she wouldn't be at risk from sitting on the toilet with potentially infectious fluids but am concerned about her wiping with potentially infectious fluids and if they reached mucus membranes. I appreciate your advice. Thank you.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
83 months ago
Welcome to the forum, but sorry to see you are so concerned about this event.

First, it is nonsensical to assume or worry that toilet paper (still rolled up) could be contaminated with blood. And if it were, that the blood would be from an HIV infected person (since under 1 person in a thousand has HIV). Most important, nobody in the world ever caught HIV from an event like this. The virus is never transmitted by contact with contaminated fluid in the environment. And have you ever once heard of a child with HIV who had not been born to an infected mother? Or infected by sexual abuse? It never happens! The same is true for all STDs.

For those reasons, I agree with the second doctor who advised you, but not the first or the "online doctor". The first and third don't understand the data or the biology of HIV, or you misunderstood them. 

Looked at another way, you have conflicting advice. But there is no conflicting information on this, if you stick to scientifically reliable sources, such as those run and moderated by academic medical centers, public health departments, or medically moderated sites like this one.

So no worries. For sure do not put your daughter through the anxiety of HIV testing. Just do on with your life (and hers) without worry.

I hope these comments are helpful. Best wishes--  HHH, MD

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