[Question #8003] HIV RISK
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50 months ago
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Dear Dr. Hook
Sorry I am back but I do need some more clarification on route of HIV transmission and assessment of risk with 2 situations
1. Yesterday at work one of my colleagues hugged me tightly and kissed me near my right eye very close to eye. She had active pimples near her lip and seemed like she had busted them few mins back as they were raw red in color. I am concerned if any blood
from her active pimple went into my eye causing risk. I don't judge people but she is known to be promiscuous.
2. At work I touched a used shaving blade in bathroom by mistake, the blade was immersed in a container filled with soapy water. I looked at my hands right after and saw 3 blood red dots under skin, not sure if blade cut me when I emptied the container when blade fell out.
3. My wife did her manicure and pedicure last week at a salon in US. after 2 days one of her toe was hurting/sensitive. I am worried if salon had sanitized the instruments correctly, I called them and they only UV sanitize but not Auto Clave.
Questions
1. Am at I or my wife at risk from these exposures to HIV?
2. Has there been any proven documented cases of HIV transmitted via eye exposure to blood in HUMAN to HUMAN day to day contact?
3. Do eye exposure HIV risk occurs ONLY when splashed with massive amount of blood like arterial flow in a medical setting or in lab conditions with high conc of HIV culture? NOT in day to day contact with small amt of blood?
4. Has there been any documented cases of razor cuts causing HIV?
5. Has there been any documented HIV case from manicure/pedicure, is my wife at risk if instruments were not properly cleaned?
6. Finally to break this cycle of fear I have decided to get tested will a HIV RNA + 4th GEn AG/AB test conclusive at 32 days based on all my exposures listed?
Should I be worried about these exposures as I said before I don't do drugs and we have never messed around (sex) outside of our marriage?
Thank you Dr.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
50 months ago
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I'm sorry you're back. I reviewed your previous discussions with Dr. Hook. You correctly summarized your risks with this statement, your own closing comment in your last discussion with Dr. Hook:
"so to sumarize if I don't have unprotected sex with random/unknown person and do not share drug injection needles and do not get massive amount of blood on me like in car accident THEN I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIV. Any other event or thoughts should be ignored."
That is exactly right. Thus, I don't understand why you're back with these comments. All three of the scenarios outlined of course are zero risk and the answer to all 6 of your questions is that the risk is zero, or at least so low that you should disregard it. You are at more risk of being struck by lightning or a meteorite than you are of acquiring HIV from the sorts of events described. Do not get tested. Instead, get professional counseling for the underlying psychological issues that make it so difficult for you to understand and accept that you are not at risk for HIV: it simply is not normal to have such fears after the repeated science-based reassurance you have had on this forum, and perhaps from your own doctor(s).
There will be no opportunity for further discussion. In addition, this being your fourth question on this topic, it must be your last. The forum does not permit repeated anxiety driven questions. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is designed to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. Also, experience shows that continued answers tend to simply prolong such anxieties, when the real answer normally should be professional counseling. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Such repeated questions are subject to being deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. Thank you for your understanding.
That said, I do hope the discussions have helped you move along without worry. Best wishes and good luck.
HHH, MD
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