Child exposure to blood

[NervousMomof2]

Hello,

Almost 2 years ago my child was using a restroom at a restaurant and when he flipped the seat up, there was wet, smeared blood. I told him not to touch anything while I grabbed paper towels to clean it, but he did. He had his back to me and lifted his hand towards his mouth.

I've been fearful regarding the possibility of getting the wet blood in his mouth since I never knew for sure if he did or not. He was 3 and non-verbal at that time (he's autistic).

What are the chances he could have contracted HIV from touching blood and putting his hand in his mouth?

I had not worried about it until recently over the last couple of months he's been getting several bumps/red spots in his mouth and on the tongue. Google scared me it could be HIV.

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

[AnxiousNoMore]

250 million other Americans have likely had a variation of that same experience involving touching someone else's blood (consider how many athletic events draw blood accidentally at high speed collisions) and none got HIV because it is instantly inactivated in air and can't infect.

[NervousMomof2]

Thank you, I appreciate your response.  I think the idea of him getting it in his mouth scared me the most.

Thanks!

[AnxiousNoMore]

HIV is inactivated in saliva too, plus the air contact in his mouth and when the blood comes out are double reasons you can't get it unless you share needles or have unprotected vaginal or anal sex.

[NervousMomof2]

That's a big relief, thank you!!