I have a recently diagnosed HIV positive friend so I would like some answers on general precautions. We will celebrate his birthday tomorrow so we will be drinking and smoking cigarettes at his party.

My questions are:

1) any risk from sharing drinks ( if he has a small cut on his lip, leave a tiny amount of blood on the cup which comes in contact with a cut on my lip)?

2) any risk from sharing a cigarette, if the same scenario applies, he leaves small traces of blood on it that come in contact with a cut in my lip?

I know these are not routes of transmission, but I think these statements are for when the lips are intact. My question is: does the no risk assessment apply even when are cuts on both his lips and mine?

Much appreciated

HIV is simply NEVER transmitted except by INTIMATE contact. If you do not have sex with your friend, or share drug needles wtih him, you CANNOT catch HIV from him.There is no risk (1) from sharing drinks or (2) cigarettes. It makes no difference if there are cuts or soreness of the lips, such as chapped lips.

My wife and I have at least 10 friends and professional colleagues who have HIV. For 20-30 years, we have eaten meals at their homes, hosted them in ours, huggged and kissed them (socially, not romatically), shaken their hands, and sometimes shared the same toilets. We never gave a second thought about catching the virus. This is simply not an issue. You should plan on remaining a close friend, and becoming even closer. Never hesitate to shake his hand, give him a hug, and to be a suppotive friend. Undoubtedly he is fightened and upset and will love you for your support. Please do not let him down!

HHH, MD

Not sure why I need to double check on this aspect, but I guess when you say there is no risk even with cuts present, I interpret that as cuts ONLY on him or on me not on BOTH at the same time. Probably anxiety/OCD.

If you could just confirm this aspect. Otherwise I understand that practically all HIV transmissions are due to sharing injection equipment and unprotected penetrative sex.

Much appreciated

Also does your assessment stay the same if he is not on medication yet? Thanks for responding to these last questions, I know this your last reply before closing this thread.

So quick recap:

1) no risk from sharing drinks or cigarettes with us BOTH having cuts on our lips?

2) still no risk, if he is not on medication yet?

Thanks so much.

That concludes this thread. Please note that repeated anxiety driven quesitons are not permitted. This being your second about these issues, it will be your last:  any more will be deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. Do your best to move on without further worry about this.