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pricked by a needle
Hi all, I would appreciate it very much if a doctor would answer my question.
My friend, a male has been pricked by a needle. The needle belongs to a HIV and HEPB HEP C + individual. My friend has been taken to the hospital straight away and doctors started a very intensive treatment for him (he was viciously ill for days). The infected person who pricked him is registered for HIV and HEP and under treatment but if he takes his meds or not is unknown. The needle was also taken to a lab and they found blood and unknown substance on the needle. The doctors were asking him to wait for up to 6 months and he is absolutely devastated.
My question is: if he got pricked by a needle (fresh blood was on it and lets say it was used like 5 mins ago) by a + person what are his chances to getting HIV and HEP if the hospital on the same day gave him some treatment? Thank you!
My friend, a male has been pricked by a needle. The needle belongs to a HIV and HEPB HEP C + individual. My friend has been taken to the hospital straight away and doctors started a very intensive treatment for him (he was viciously ill for days). The infected person who pricked him is registered for HIV and HEP and under treatment but if he takes his meds or not is unknown. The needle was also taken to a lab and they found blood and unknown substance on the needle. The doctors were asking him to wait for up to 6 months and he is absolutely devastated.
My question is: if he got pricked by a needle (fresh blood was on it and lets say it was used like 5 mins ago) by a + person what are his chances to getting HIV and HEP if the hospital on the same day gave him some treatment? Thank you!
What determination did the doctors make about his exposure risk? In other words, did they decide he needed to test for HIV and Hep C?
If a person exposed to hepatitis C becomes infected, virus particles (called HCV RNA) can be detected within 1-2 weeks. Liver function tests also will tend to rise during this timeframe.
RNA tests for HIV will show a positive result based on the presence of the virus itself, rather than on the antibodies.
9-14 days after infection, there will be enough viral material for a positive result.
Since you took your friend to the hospital the same day he was stuck with the needle, the doctors should have outlined their plans at that time according to their assessment of his risk. I am surprised all of your questions were not answered at that time.
If your friend must wait for results, I don't know what advice to give you to keep him from drinking. If he is a recovering alcoholic, perhaps he goes to AA meetings...........(AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous here in the US and may go by another name in the UK, but I'm sure they exist) I would suggest you contact that organization for help in this matter.
Please post to us again if there are still questions and concerns.
We all wish the very best for your friend
RubyWitch
If a person exposed to hepatitis C becomes infected, virus particles (called HCV RNA) can be detected within 1-2 weeks. Liver function tests also will tend to rise during this timeframe.
RNA tests for HIV will show a positive result based on the presence of the virus itself, rather than on the antibodies.
9-14 days after infection, there will be enough viral material for a positive result.
Since you took your friend to the hospital the same day he was stuck with the needle, the doctors should have outlined their plans at that time according to their assessment of his risk. I am surprised all of your questions were not answered at that time.
If your friend must wait for results, I don't know what advice to give you to keep him from drinking. If he is a recovering alcoholic, perhaps he goes to AA meetings...........(AA stands for Alcoholics Anonymous here in the US and may go by another name in the UK, but I'm sure they exist) I would suggest you contact that organization for help in this matter.
Please post to us again if there are still questions and concerns.
We all wish the very best for your friend
RubyWitch
If he was taken to a hospital the same day this happened, they would assess his risk and start him on PEP for HIV if they decided he was, in fact, at risk.
I am not a doctor and do not know what they would (or could) do for the possible Hep C exposure. I am sure if there IS something they could do, they would.
I'm sorry this happened to your friend and we all wish him the best, but going to the hospital was the very best thing you could have done.
RubyWitch
I am not a doctor and do not know what they would (or could) do for the possible Hep C exposure. I am sure if there IS something they could do, they would.
I'm sorry this happened to your friend and we all wish him the best, but going to the hospital was the very best thing you could have done.
RubyWitch
1 Comments
Ruby, thank you for your answer. We just try to figure out what his chances are as exactly the same thing happened to him 3 years ago and he started to drink heavily that was the way how he managed. (all tests were negative) Now he has 2 small kids and his wife is extremely scared that he will start drinking again. He takes it extremely badly and very scared of HEP. Is HEP works the same way as HIV that dies quick on air? I read on this forum if a HIV + person gets treatment, most likely they can not pass the virus to anyone, is it the same for HEP too? I am just hoping to get some good words from the forum what I can show him so as a family they can have a weekend without any tears and fears.
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