[Question #4598] Spit in crack of the skin

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80 months ago
Dear Experts

I think I am developing hiv phobia, and would certainly seek professional help for it, but you help me to see how some of the situations I describe are stupid and I believe your opinion, so my phobia stops for a while. 
Anyhow, here is the situation

I have a little crack in my skin which is due to dryness , it is less than a millimetre wide but it is red and I can see the tiny crack (also about a millimetre long). However, when I press on it - no blood comes out. It is also non-reactive to alcohol-containing gel (meaning I do not feel it burning). But it is, as I said, quite red.

 So, I got to talking to someone today, work related, I never met the guy before. As he was talking, some of his spit landed on my hands . As I went to wash my hands before dinner, I saw that little crack on my skin and here comes the anxiety (I promise I will deal with it, already made an appointment for this Thursday) . I have no idea whether he is HIV positive (we are in Czech Republic, where HIV rate is 0.1%) and whether his spit was mixed with blood and I do not know even if it landed on that part of my hand, but lets assume it did. Would that be a risk considering how small the wound is, it is not bleeding, not reactive to alcohol and I washed my hands almost immediately as I was rushing to dinner? Do you think I should test after this incident? Would you? Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
80 months ago
Welcome to the Forum. I will try to help by providing a factual assessment related to your concerns.   The scenario you describe is a no risk even.  No one has EVER acquired HIV through exposure to saliva, particularly in the manner that you describe.  that you have  a small fissure/crack in your skin makes no difference whatsoever.  Thus, even in the unlikely circumstance that this person had HIV, there would be no risk at all.  There is no reason for concern and no reason for testing.

While i hope that this response is helpful to you, please let me point out that that our site has no role in the therapy or management of OCD.  My sincere and heartfelt advice is that you should absolutely seek counseling and professional help to deal with your OCD.  To try to substitute the information we provide is an inadequate substitute for professional counseling.  I urge you to seek help.  EWH
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