Aa
Going insane with worry over rash
Teak told me this is a 'NO RISK' situation & I was willing to let it go, but today my rash has gotten a lot worse and I'm insane with fear.
My possible exposure was just over 3 wks ago when a guy introduced himself to me and shook my hand very hard. Afterwards, I checked my hand for cuts & sure enough on the back of my hand where the guy's thumb pressed, I had 3 small dot shaped cuts. I THINK they may've been from about an hour before when my dog scratched me but I couldn't say for sure - they looked pretty fresh and were red - they probably bled initially but not sure. I put sanitiser on my hands right away & didn't really look to see if there was any blood on me that could've been from the guy.
About 2.5 weeks later I developed a rash, which is not itcy, on my chest. I thought it was due to the insect repellent I'd sprayed on that morning & subsequent sun exposure. The chemist gave me a cream but it hasn't done any good. That was 5 days ago. The day before yesterday I thought the rash was improving but today it's more inflamed and has spead to another area of my chest.
I know my risk was very low but can I be certain it was a NO RISK? I'm freaking out about this rash that is NOT itching & is on my chest, which fits in with ARS rash symptoms, and the fact that the timeline matches up at 2.5 - 3 wks after. I know you hate questions about symptoms but I am going insane with fear. Can I put this rash down to not being an HIV infection from my incident as described above.? Other than the rash I haven't had any other symptoms - would I have if it was ARS? I can't get a doc appnt for 6 hrs. I'm just so so scared. Can you please assess my situation? Thanks so much & sorry for the long post!
My possible exposure was just over 3 wks ago when a guy introduced himself to me and shook my hand very hard. Afterwards, I checked my hand for cuts & sure enough on the back of my hand where the guy's thumb pressed, I had 3 small dot shaped cuts. I THINK they may've been from about an hour before when my dog scratched me but I couldn't say for sure - they looked pretty fresh and were red - they probably bled initially but not sure. I put sanitiser on my hands right away & didn't really look to see if there was any blood on me that could've been from the guy.
About 2.5 weeks later I developed a rash, which is not itcy, on my chest. I thought it was due to the insect repellent I'd sprayed on that morning & subsequent sun exposure. The chemist gave me a cream but it hasn't done any good. That was 5 days ago. The day before yesterday I thought the rash was improving but today it's more inflamed and has spead to another area of my chest.
I know my risk was very low but can I be certain it was a NO RISK? I'm freaking out about this rash that is NOT itching & is on my chest, which fits in with ARS rash symptoms, and the fact that the timeline matches up at 2.5 - 3 wks after. I know you hate questions about symptoms but I am going insane with fear. Can I put this rash down to not being an HIV infection from my incident as described above.? Other than the rash I haven't had any other symptoms - would I have if it was ARS? I can't get a doc appnt for 6 hrs. I'm just so so scared. Can you please assess my situation? Thanks so much & sorry for the long post!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're over thinking it. Trying to analyze the biological reasons such transmissions don't occur is pointless. It is no risk because it has never happened. You're not likely to be the first case in the world.
That's all for this thread.
That's all for this thread.
I know I'm really pushing it with another question but so that I can understand why, and so I (and others) don't worry in future, is mine a no risk situation because the amount of blood needed to infect would be too large to get through minor cuts (in my case three of them)? This is absolutey my last question - promise.You have been so helpful but I just need to understand the reason WHY so I can move forward.
Thanks a lot, doctor. Hopefully I can tell myself to move on from this. You offer such a great service. Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I knew exactly what your concern was. Indeed you are "still badly overreacting". There is no plausible HIV risk, even if the other fellow had HIV -- which he probably doesn't.
Of course my name spelling isn't a problem -- I probably wouldn't have noticed if you didn't mention it -- your right hand shifted one notch left on the keyboard.
Of course my name spelling isn't a problem -- I probably wouldn't have noticed if you didn't mention it -- your right hand shifted one notch left on the keyboard.
Sorry Doctor, I just realised in my rush I spelt your name incorrectly. I look forward to hearing from you re my above question, then I will leave you alone! Thanks again and sorry for the follow up.
Thank you very much for your frank answers Doctor.
I know your time is valuable, but just one last thing - I'm not sure if I put across in my initial post that the reason I was worried about the cuts I had, was the possibility that the person who shook my hand may've been bleeding also (although I didn't notice but also didn't look that carefully at the time) and the possibility that some of his blood had gotten into my cut especially with applied pressure from the handshake. I know you can't catch HIV through intact skin. Would your response be any different in light of this? Or am I still badly overreacting? Thanks so much and this will be my last question to you. :o)
I know your time is valuable, but just one last thing - I'm not sure if I put across in my initial post that the reason I was worried about the cuts I had, was the possibility that the person who shook my hand may've been bleeding also (although I didn't notice but also didn't look that carefully at the time) and the possibility that some of his blood had gotten into my cut especially with applied pressure from the handshake. I know you can't catch HIV through intact skin. Would your response be any different in light of this? Or am I still badly overreacting? Thanks so much and this will be my last question to you. :o)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I meant to say this as well: For every person with unexplained skin rask, I'll be less than 1 in 10,000 has HIV as the cause.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the HIV forum.
You are badly freaked out over a zero risk event. It is not possible you caught HIV from the non-exposure even tyou described. Something other than HIV is the cause of your rash-- and it doesn't sound like an HIV rash anyway. And no, it is not possible for HIV to cause a rash as the only symptom.
"I know my risk was very low but can I be certain it was a NO RISK?" Yes, of course. If HIV could be transmitted by shaking hands, it would be 100 times more common than it is and it wouldn't be considered an STD.
"I'm just so so scared." I don't mean to sound harsh or insenstive, but that is just plain stupid. There is no chance your rash is due to HIV, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the hand shake event. Mellow out. See a health care provider when you can, but stop worrying about this. There is no possibility you caught HIV or that HIV is the cause of your rash.
HHH, MD
You are badly freaked out over a zero risk event. It is not possible you caught HIV from the non-exposure even tyou described. Something other than HIV is the cause of your rash-- and it doesn't sound like an HIV rash anyway. And no, it is not possible for HIV to cause a rash as the only symptom.
"I know my risk was very low but can I be certain it was a NO RISK?" Yes, of course. If HIV could be transmitted by shaking hands, it would be 100 times more common than it is and it wouldn't be considered an STD.
"I'm just so so scared." I don't mean to sound harsh or insenstive, but that is just plain stupid. There is no chance your rash is due to HIV, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the hand shake event. Mellow out. See a health care provider when you can, but stop worrying about this. There is no possibility you caught HIV or that HIV is the cause of your rash.
HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.
