H.I.V transmission via the ear?

[Orangechicken]

Hello, Recently I unthinkngly used the head phones of a co worker (the
kind of headphones that you have to stick in your ear) this co-worker
has very poor hygene and I'm at a loss as to why i would have shared
something to personal with this woman. i was wondering if H.I.V or other diseases can be
transmitted via the ear?
I know that ear wax cannot transmit h.i.v but I know that blood can
and semen can. Is the ear considered a mucus membrane and thereby a
viable point of transmission? Don't ask me why I think she may have
had semen or blood in her ear  . . . .

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I wouldn't worry about it.  I'm sure the risk of HIV transmission by contaminated in-the-ear earphones is zero or close to it, even if the previous user had HIV, and even if such a person had a wound or blood in the ear.  Your gastrointestinal symptoms undoubtedly are coincidental.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[Orangechicken]

the incident happened about 4-5 days ago, and both i and my fiancee have been having some stomach discomfort loose stools.

[monkeyflower]

You probably just got a virus. STDs are by definition sexually transmitted - you definitely can't get anything from using someone else's headphones, or touching, hugging, etc.