Eczema on hand - possible exposure.

[zontrex]

Hi,
I recently posted the following on the professional forus and Dr. Hook answered :- http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Eczema-on-hand-Please-advise/show/1647797#post_7500999

I was happy to learn that it was no risk. Basically I have hand Eczema which gets really bad in the winter and I had a couple of cracks on the hand one on the knuckle and the other near to the bottom of a finger nail. A stranger had cut his thumb while packing some weight equipment which I had sold to him while putting it in to his car. While passing to him some weights he stroked my hand with his blooodied thumb. He wasn't bleeding prefusely just moderately and enough to cover his nail. This then freaked me out as I had these cracks. These cracks were not visibily bleeding. I briefly checked them and they wern't visibilly bleeding and I couldn't see any of his blood smeared on or around them just on my thumb and so I thought it  must have been ok. However, about 10 minutes later I washed the cracks and then dried them. I then dabbed one of them with a piece of white tissue and there was a small speck of blood which appeared. Dr. Hook said no risk which I understood but the other day I saw a post in which Dr. Hook states that if both inuries were caused at the same time then there could be a risk:- http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV-Prevention/Injury-with-blood/show/1659911 This then worried me as this guy may have nudged the crack with his bloodied thumb and caused it to bleed albeit very slightly that I didn't notice it.

Althogh I don't remember the guy touching the cracks there may have been a possibility as I was passing him equipment quite often.

I'm realy confused and didn't want to ask Dr. Hook another quesiton about this due to fear of sounding like I'm questioning his advice.

Can anyone with any knowledge advise me if they think my situation is a risk or not and if possible explain the reasons why?

Many thanks and hope someone can advise.

Thanks.

[zontrex]

Hi, I know Dr. Hook said my situation was no risk but it wasn't until AFTER he gave this advice that I read the a later post where he said if both injuiries were caused the same time that there could have been a risk. (See links).

So I just want to know if MY situation would have been a risk if the guy touched my wound immediately after he cut his thumb. Or would the fact that I didn't notice my wound bleeding overtly until I cleaned it 10 minutes later and noticed a small speck of blood, AND that I didn't notice any of his blood on or around it mean that it was ok and no risk?

In Dr. Hook's post he mentioned about theory vs reality but it didn't appear to make much sense (to me).

I ask this as looking back at it there was a strong possibility that the guy could have touched the wound and I not realise it as we were hurryingly shifting weight equipment.

So I would just like some experienced opinions on this with reasoning if possible please.

Thank you.

[LIZZIE LOU]

when DR HOOK replied to your question...he assessed YOUR risk according to what you had written.

you had NO risk...PERIOD !