[Question #7968] New fear.

50 months ago

Hello doctors and good evening, I finally moved on from the blood draw fear and now I’m worried about other thing!

Yesterday before entering the gym I scratch my finger in the car and it’s start bleeding I cleaned it with napkins and cover it with dressing and went to the gym directly and start working out.

I think it’s what we called paper cut or small cut.

I know what i did is wrong but it’s not the best time to feel guilty.

My questions are :

1- is this risky exposure? Working out with gym equipment with paper cut even with dressing or big plaster?

2- Is paper cut or small cut on skin that’s bleed is an entry for hiv? Like there is no protective layers?

3- in the environmental area like the gym it’s pretty much impossible for hiv to live right? I didn’t see any blood in any equipment I used but still worried if there is some blood

4- does a singe drop of blood enough for transmission to a paper cut with dressing?

5- does the big plaster or dressing a good idea?

6- I have to say that’s I didn’t touch anything directly with my injured finger it’s was the little finger or the pinky finger and from behind so you can’t left any thing with it.

7- overall do you think I should test like the PCR?

And thank you again

Edward W. Hook M.D.

50 months ago

Welcome back to the forum. On this occasion I happened to pick up your question rather than Dr. Handsfield. As I suspect you know we work together interchangeably on the forum. I did review your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree with everything he told you and the advice he provided.

My comments below will build on his earlier comments. The fact is that HIV and other blood-borne viruses are transmitted for all effective purposes only through direct sexual contact or injection of infected material deep into tissue. The virus is not acquired from touching or contact with environmental surfaces which may have been contaminated with an infected persons blood or secretions. The virus is also not acquired through contact of surfaces such as door knobs, countertops or toilet seats. The presence of cuts or scrapes does not change this risk. The only realistic risks for Acquisition of HIV are to have sex with an infected person or to inject infected material deep into your body. The event you described was a no risk event. More specifically:

1. As noted above, this was a no risk of that. The fact that you had a bandage or plaster in place does not change this and either way although it may make working out more awkward.

2. HIV is not acquired through cuts or scrapes on the skin. First, the flow of blood in such instances is outward not inward. Secondly these cuts and scrapes seal off very quickly. Third, while admittedly there is a very, very tiny theoretical risk of acquisition of infection in this way, in reality there are virtually no instances in which infection have been acquired through cuts and scrapes.

3. No risk. See above.

4. No

5. It makes no meaningful difference to your risk

6. Again, no risk.

7. I see no reason for concern and certainly no reason for testing of any sort.

I hope these comments and the information I provided are helpful to you. I also hope this clarifies the issue of risk for HIV. Unless you have unprotected sex with an HIV infected person or have infected material injected directly and deeply in the tissue there is no risk for HIV, no one is in for concern, and no reason for testing. EWH

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50 months ago

Thanks doctor for the clarifying my concerns. I believe in science!

I have some questions regarding my situation.

1- I did not have sex at any kind and did not inject any drugs, do you think doctor i should be safe from these infections?

2- my only concerns are the gym issue and the blood draw 3 months ago, and I believe that’s it’s not a risk even with my head worst scenarios? Do you agree doctor?

3- regarding symptoms I have a chronic nasal congestion for Almost 2 months and also a sore throat when I wake up in the morning, also white tounge with a lot of candida that’s comes and go does that’s suggest hiv? Specially the tounge some times I thinks it’s oral thrush! Also to note I am wearing a dental retainer not the plastic one.

4- do you believe doctor that’s as long I did not have sex or inject drugs I should ignore symptoms as suggestive?

5- I am scared for my little brother, he used my razor two times and it’s blades, if god forbid I have something does he have a risk?

I did not cut my self with it at all.

6- i really want to donate blood and plasma like I used to do regularly in my entire life, I’m safe enough to continue to do so doctor?

Thank you again so much

Edward W. Hook M.D.

50 months ago

These questions are a bit repetitive and have been answered, directly or indirectly above,. Brief responses:

1- I did not have sex at any kind and did not inject any drugs, do you think doctor i should be safe from these infections?

Yes

2- my only concerns are the gym issue and the blood draw 3 months ago, and I believe that’s it’s not a risk even with my head worst scenarios? Do you agree doctor?

I agree

This does not suggest HIV. your thrush may be related to your retainer.

4- do you believe doctor that’s as long I did not have sex or inject drugs I should ignore symptoms as suggestive?

Yes

5- I am scared for my little brother, he used my razor two times and it’s blades, if god forbid I have something does he have a risk?

I did not cut my self with it at all.

He is not at risk. He should get his own razor.

6- i really want to donate blood and plasma like I used to do regularly in my entire life, I’m safe enough to continue to do so doctor?

You are OK to donate blood or plasma

Hope this helps. EWH

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50 months ago

Thanks doctor, I don’t have any further question regarding the gym concern, I’m sorry for the repeated questions it’s just for me to be sure and don’t miss understood anything, a ask a lot of questions because it’s a great chance to ask a great doctors like yours mr hook and mr handsfield. I help myself out by the advice and the knowledge that’s you are provided.

I still have some final questions to peace my mind and I hope you don’t get mad.

1- today I went to the store to buy sports gloves to avoid such issue, in the cashier I tried some gloves to be sure it’s fits, one of the gloves when the cashier opened it it’s scratch him by what connect the two pair of the gloves I don’t know if it’s cut him or not, I didn’t see any blood, and my hand has no cuts, I wear it immediately. if there was a blood and I touch it by mistake or its comes to my nail does it produce a risk?

2- these blood to blood contact its needs an open wound that’s required medical attention not just a small cut and needs a lots of blood not just a few is that right? And has to be directly not via an object like the gloves ?

3- regarding ARS, the sore throat has to be all the day not just in the morning thats got went away by a water ? And the night sweet it’s must have fever because of the fighting the infection right?

4- you said that nasal congestion and sore throat in the morning does not suggest any thing, if I add blood in the sneezing and maybe a dry mouth does this increase the suggestion?

5- can I move on 100% from your perspective regarding the situations that’s I am concern about?

Thanks again doctor for the help.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

50 months ago

These will be my final responses. Further, should you return to the forum with further unrealistic questions of this sort, the thread may be closed without a response.

1. Silly, unrealistic “what if” question. Answer should be apparent from earlier responses. No risk.

2. Correct, no risk

3. Correct

4. Still no risk

5. Yes

EWH

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