Aa
Worried about blood found on hand.
I've been advised to ask about the hepatitis related question in this community so ignore the hiv part.
The area I work has one of the highest HIV and hepatitis rates in my country, I am always surrounded by IV drug users. Today I noticed what I can only explain as smallish amount of blood on my hands, I washed this off immediately. The problem is I've been rubbing my eye and also my chest due a spot which is open. I checked my white shirt and there is no blood, just puss so it is not from the spot. I don't know where this blood has come from or how long it was on. I'm so worried about hep c and hiv.
I always have unprotected sex with my girlfriend, I am worried about putting her through danger. I understand I have a level of OCD so sometimes I don't know when I am being realistic and when I am being irrational. This is driving me mad and even making me depressed. I absolutely hate not knowing where this has come from and how it has ended up on my hand. Is this a risk to worry about knowing I have been rubbing my eyes, scratching an open spot and eating whilst it was present? If so what are the theoretical percentages of transmission if known?
The area I work has one of the highest HIV and hepatitis rates in my country, I am always surrounded by IV drug users. Today I noticed what I can only explain as smallish amount of blood on my hands, I washed this off immediately. The problem is I've been rubbing my eye and also my chest due a spot which is open. I checked my white shirt and there is no blood, just puss so it is not from the spot. I don't know where this blood has come from or how long it was on. I'm so worried about hep c and hiv.
I always have unprotected sex with my girlfriend, I am worried about putting her through danger. I understand I have a level of OCD so sometimes I don't know when I am being realistic and when I am being irrational. This is driving me mad and even making me depressed. I absolutely hate not knowing where this has come from and how it has ended up on my hand. Is this a risk to worry about knowing I have been rubbing my eyes, scratching an open spot and eating whilst it was present? If so what are the theoretical percentages of transmission if known?
"what are the theoretical percentages of transmission if known?"
There are no stats on the scenario described, I would say a 0% chance, if your worried get tested, it is the only way to know for sure.
There are no stats on the scenario described, I would say a 0% chance, if your worried get tested, it is the only way to know for sure.
3 Comments
What's the window period for home kit tests? Would you know?
Not sure why you would want mess around with a home testing kit. Not even sure they are available anymore.
It would require you to do a finger stick and then wait up to 10 days after mailing it in for results. Plus there is the possibility of not performing the test correctly.
Just see your doctor and get the antibody test if you feel you must do so but really you don't even know that was blood on your hand and the risk you have described is almost nonexistent.
Anyway if you have the test from your doctor you would have the result in probably 3 days vs 10 or more.
Hepatitis C antibodies appear can take 3-12 weeks to appear after an exposure so you should wait that long before testing.
But honestly I think your anxiety about contracting a very slowly acting andvery curable illness is your greatest health challenge not your very long odds on having contracted hep cinthe situation you have described.
In order to contract hep c it requires hep c infected blood to enter your blood stream. You cannot contract hep c by ingesting the virus or by rubbing your eye.
The health problem you really need to address as best as you can is your anxiety and OCD.
Best of luck to you
It would require you to do a finger stick and then wait up to 10 days after mailing it in for results. Plus there is the possibility of not performing the test correctly.
Just see your doctor and get the antibody test if you feel you must do so but really you don't even know that was blood on your hand and the risk you have described is almost nonexistent.
Anyway if you have the test from your doctor you would have the result in probably 3 days vs 10 or more.
Hepatitis C antibodies appear can take 3-12 weeks to appear after an exposure so you should wait that long before testing.
But honestly I think your anxiety about contracting a very slowly acting andvery curable illness is your greatest health challenge not your very long odds on having contracted hep cinthe situation you have described.
In order to contract hep c it requires hep c infected blood to enter your blood stream. You cannot contract hep c by ingesting the virus or by rubbing your eye.
The health problem you really need to address as best as you can is your anxiety and OCD.
Best of luck to you
For the most part hepatitis C isn't that easy to get. I have know numerous couples who haven't transmitted hep c to their partners. I think you being way to stress out but if this is bothering you....get tested.
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