[Question #8184] Touching some very old condoms

48 months ago

Dear Doctors,

I'm from Italy so please excuse my poor english.

I really am in trouble about a strange situation that happened last week.

I live in my actually house since 2003. Last week I was checking some old stuff boxes in the garage while I found an old box from the previous owner of the house. It seemed that in the box there only were some books and some hats so I let my 3 years old daughter to play with this stuff.

I went in another room but when I came back after some minutes I panicked because I saw my daughter with some old condoms in the hands. I asked and she said she found them in a plastic container inside that box. They were surely used, some were closed with a knot on the top other were open. They were of course of the previous house owner. I picked them immediately with some latex gloves and I put them in the trash.

Now I really am in trouble because I think my daughter was exposed to HIV.

That condoms were of course very old because I live there since 2003 and they are not mine, so they are older.

I read many of your previous answer and I you usually say that environmental exposures are not a problem and I also know that you don't like to explain biology of how long the virus survives outside body, and I also know that 18 years are a huge period of time but I need to ask.

Since that condoms were in a plastic box so with few air inside and since I didn't check, if there were still some wet semen inside or outside them (it's hard to imagine I know but please consider), maybe spilled from the ones that were a bit closed with the knot on top, is it possible that some hiv was still alive after many years?

Thank you very much for your help

Edward W. Hook M.D.

48 months ago

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I understand your concerns. when our children are involved we want to be as safe and cautious as possible. I can reassure you however that, even if you previous owner of your house had HIV (which is statistically unlikely- most people do not have HIV), If the virus had been present it would have died long, long ago. this is the case even if the condoms were tied off or sealed. The event you describe, was a no risk event. your daughter is not at risk for HIV or any other STI, nor is there any need for testing.

I hope this information is helpful and reassuring. Please don't worry. EWH

---

48 months ago

Dear Doctor Hook,

First of all thank you for your answer. I only have another question that I forgot.

Is my daughter safe even if she put her hands in mouth a few moments later? You know, babies always put their hands in mouth.

Thank you again.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

48 months ago

Yes, there is no risk even if she transferred something that she touched into her mouth. Still no risk, no need for testing. lease don't worry. EWH---

47 months ago

Dear Doctor,

thank you again for your answer. I know that I'm overthinking and that probably the best thing to do is to stop reading on internet. I have another question. Is my daughter safe even if any old wet fluid came in contact with another mucous membrane (eyes, nose, intimate parts) or with any small cut on the skin?

Thank you again.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

47 months ago

As you know, this will be my final response to this thread. The Internet is not your friend here. Much of the information found there is incorrect either because it is out of date, a misinterpretation of data, or reflects information taken out of context. Some of the information on the Internet it’s just categorically wrong. Please stay off the Internet and seeking information on the events you described.

As I indicated above, any wet material or secretions which came from the old condoms and came into contact with your daughters’s mucous membranes would not put her at risk for HIV. Please don’t worry. Take care. EWH

---