[Question #5624] Daughter risk followup

19 months ago

Doc,

I'm still a little anxious. One because my daughter has dry skin behind the ear that comes and goes (granted, summertime she's swimming a lot, IDK if that makes a difference). Also, last night, putting my younger daughter down (she's 3, the other one 5) I pulled her ear up and in one ear she had some shit dry skin too.

I also am anxious thinking back to the rapid test. I know I got a 4th gen at 6 months but wanted one more different test to be sure. The test at City Med was the SureCheck rapid which according to this site looks like a 2ndgen. (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/testing/hiv-tests-advantages-disadvantages_1.pdf). My worry is thatthe woman who did it pricked my finger, and THEN wiped the blood off, and then took the blood that came out next. Questions:

1. If both of my daughters have sebhorric dermatitis, is it more likely that they both have HIV that is acting the same or that they just genetically get dry skin? The younger one has suffered from mild eczema but until now the older one hasn't. And I know 5 would be very late for excema to come.

2. At the same time, after I rub lotion on it it goes away. Would dermatitis clear up that easily?

3. The test.it freaks me out that she wiped my skin after puncturing. I did read that that's normal procedure, but I feel like she didn't do it with regular gause it felt like it was an antiseptic wipe. So my question is could the alcohol/chemical from an antiseptic wipe on the broken skin affect the rapid test?

4. As this test is a second generation, do u think it's still conclusive at just over a year?

5. Not to challenge you, but I told you my fear was my daughter MAYBE sucking her thumb with a little of my blood on it. you said casual contact wouldn't result in infection. I want to trust you but curious on your opinion on this? Is this just nonsense, are you aware of it? https://www.livescience.com/63710-father-transmits-hiv-to-son-rare-case.html

Thx

19 months ago

6. Sorry always forget one. And this morning, of course, right when I start to calm down my 5 year old says he mouth is hurting and shows me a tiny sore/white bump inside her mouth at the corner of lips. Maybe a tiny canker sore but she's never gotten one. Any reason for concern? I love these kids so much and I'm just so scared my mistake could have hurt them but I'm trying to be responsible and make sure, that's all.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

19 months ago

Welcome back, but sorry you found it necessary. I reviewed your recent discussion with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said. Based on the exposure and your test results, there is simply no possibility you have HIV. And even if you did, there is no possibility of infecting your kids, assuming no sexual abuse. The household contacts of people with HIV never are infected, even after years of sharing toilets, eating utensils, etc, etc with the infected person. You're seriously overthinkingb all this.

Those comments pretty well cover your specific questions, but I'll address them directly:

1) Seborrhic dermatitis, or any rash, never is the only symptom or sign of HIV.

2) I have no other comment on your daughtors' skin problems. We don't attempt to diagnose, treat, or advise about problems that are not due to HIV or STDs. This si something to ask their pediatrician if the problem seems evere, or at the time of their next routine well-child health care visits.

3) Nobody in the world ever caught HIV from having blood drawn. How the skin is wiped makes no difference. Skin wiping for drawing blood is designed to prevent local bacterial infections, and has nothing to do with HIV prevention. There would be no risk of HIV even if no wipe of any kind were used before blood draw.

4) All HIV tests are conclusive more than 3 months after exposure, including older (2nd generation) antibody tests.

5) My advice would be the same even if your daughter had gotten your blood in her mouth.

6) Such symptoms do not even hint at HIV infection.

You clearly are reacting emotionally to a sexual decision your regret. Get over it. Don't confuse guilt or shame over that decision with infection risk; they aren't the same. Do not have any more HIV tests and stop worrying about your kids. If you find yourself continuing to obsess about this, you'll need professional counseling.

HHH, MD

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19 months ago

Thank you Dr. One question I believe you misunderstood is about the finger prick.

I was surprised that she used the wipe after she pricked my finger but before she drew the blood. I'm not concerned about myself getting an infection from the process. My point is, if I can word it correctly...since she wiped my finger after I began to bleed, presumably the alcohol/chemical whatever is on the wipe was there when the blood that went into the test came out. So, what I'm worrying about is if the chemical/alcohol was in the blood and therefore in the test, would it impact the results or mess with the test in any way?

I think - truly, if this answer is a no I will move on and not even use my follow up. If it's yes, I may have to go get one more rapid test I guess.

Thank you and if it's the answer I'm hoping for please have a great 4th.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

19 months ago

Thanks for the clarification. Contamination of your blood with a bit of alcohol would not have any effect on the test result. This is evidence of the exteme extent to which you are overthinking all this. Do your best to stop worrying. Do not have any more HIV tests.---

19 months ago

Thanks Dr. Happy 4th. No need to answer on the holiday...answer at your leisure of course.

This dry skin on my kids would not prompt a pedi visit now. Honestly, I’m not making it up, they both have dry skin around nose and some scaly things in folds back of ears - but truthfully I have to distress them and look for it to see it. Wouldn’t have noticed otherwise and doesn’t seem to bother them. I also think sweating from the summer brings it on if that makes sense?

Some final follow ups.

1. If you look back on my exposure, was it even a risk in first place? What if I had some cuts from shaving around the penis ( at least 6 hours before it) and some vagina fluid got in a cut?

2. Regardless of risk would be 4th gen at 6 months be conclusive by itself?

3. Same question for my 2nd gen rapid finger stick test one year later. By itself would this be conclusive?

These questions might seem irrelevant - but my anxiety has me worried about one tesr being done improperly. So - it would help to know both tests would be conclusive on their own. Also tooksome neg oraquick saliva between 6-12 months. Thanks!!

19 months ago

And 4. (Always forget one!) would these tests cover experiences prior? The riskiest unprotected anal sex from 2 years ago (example) would be covered by either of these tests 100%?

Thanks. Just want to enjoy the beach with my kids without worrying about every thing on their bodies.

19 months ago

Sorry sent that before I was done.

Lastly, for peace of mind - I kind of assume if my freakin toddlers had hiv (ridiculously uncomfortable to say) there would be more signs considering their age than just a skin issue? Like a lot of swollen nodes, fevers/pnemonia/maybe weight loss etc? Thanks. If I was a single guy I doubt I would have thought twice about the exposure I just feel like I let people down and put people at risk. Thanks for your understanding. I’ll be done now.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

19 months ago

I haven't looked back at your other thread, but the exposure doesn't matter. No matter how high the risk at the time, every test more than 6 weeks after the event was conclusive. The kids' symptoms don't even hint at HIV.

Thanks for the kind words. Happy fourth to you as well. That concludes this thread. Please do not post another about this exposure, test results, and your fears for your kids. Repeated anxiety driven questions are not permitted, and a new one would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee). Thanks for your understanding of this policy.

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