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Second-hand exposure with cuts in environment
Hello Sir.
My friend and I were at a local festival at a golf course and had had a little too much to drink, attracting the attention of the county sheriffs. After answering questions, I was told to find a ride home, and, since I couldn't find my DD within a few minutes, the overzealous officers arrested me rather physically and took me to the county jail. Once again, I was man handled at the jail and have numerous scrapes and bruises on my arms, legs, chest, and face to show for it. I think there was a lot of excessive police brutality but that's for the court to decide.
Anyway, I was placed in an individual cell, being drunk and all, and told to sober up and wait for morning. Due to a systems error, though, I was there for a little over 24 hours. Now here's my HIV related question: Is there any likelihood of picking up HIV, hepatitis A or C (vaccinated against C) or any other disease from my time spent in county jail. I live in a relatively urban area and I can only imagine the prevalence is somewhat high, although the nurse and guards told me the cells are kept sanitary and disinfected between visitors, although that looked debatable. I didn't have any shoes and spent the night on a cot that looked relatively clean wearing just boxers, but, like I said, the sanitation there was questionable and I had cuts on my bare feet as well as much of my body. These cuts were, for the most part, shallow and disappearing now just 36 hours later, but some were deeper and I'm sure bled some.
Could I have picked up HIV or anything else through exposure to blood or whatever might have been left in my cell from the last inmate or from having my body forcefully thrown to the floor of a dirty jailhouse floor? I only had first-hand exposure to the policemen.
I've never been in any trouble or relatable situation and am honestly paralyzed with fear but my parents say I'm being ridiculous and refuse to let me see a doctor.
Your insight is very much appreciated, Dr.
My friend and I were at a local festival at a golf course and had had a little too much to drink, attracting the attention of the county sheriffs. After answering questions, I was told to find a ride home, and, since I couldn't find my DD within a few minutes, the overzealous officers arrested me rather physically and took me to the county jail. Once again, I was man handled at the jail and have numerous scrapes and bruises on my arms, legs, chest, and face to show for it. I think there was a lot of excessive police brutality but that's for the court to decide.
Anyway, I was placed in an individual cell, being drunk and all, and told to sober up and wait for morning. Due to a systems error, though, I was there for a little over 24 hours. Now here's my HIV related question: Is there any likelihood of picking up HIV, hepatitis A or C (vaccinated against C) or any other disease from my time spent in county jail. I live in a relatively urban area and I can only imagine the prevalence is somewhat high, although the nurse and guards told me the cells are kept sanitary and disinfected between visitors, although that looked debatable. I didn't have any shoes and spent the night on a cot that looked relatively clean wearing just boxers, but, like I said, the sanitation there was questionable and I had cuts on my bare feet as well as much of my body. These cuts were, for the most part, shallow and disappearing now just 36 hours later, but some were deeper and I'm sure bled some.
Could I have picked up HIV or anything else through exposure to blood or whatever might have been left in my cell from the last inmate or from having my body forcefully thrown to the floor of a dirty jailhouse floor? I only had first-hand exposure to the policemen.
I've never been in any trouble or relatable situation and am honestly paralyzed with fear but my parents say I'm being ridiculous and refuse to let me see a doctor.
Your insight is very much appreciated, Dr.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, I see no reason for vaccinations or shots. If some of your scrapes get angry looking or red you may want to check with a doctor to see if they have become infected. Nothing more. EWH
Thanks sir. I appreciate the response and recognize that I have OCD. I'll keep working on it (and it's getting better) but this situation just was so unfamiliar to me that it threw me for a loop. I know this is probably outside your area of expertise, but do you think I would need any other kind of vaccination, shot, etc. from the situation? Or would have to do anything in particular b/c I couldn't clean my wounds out for 24 hours.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to our Forum. With our last interaction you acknowledged you have OCD. It is acting up again.
Infections, including HIV, hepatitis C, and other STDs die quickly in the environment and are not transmitted by inanimate objects, even to people who have open cuts and scrapes. You have absolutely no reason for concern related to risk for infection during your stay in jail. On the other hand, if you were drinking enough for the local authorities to feel that you would be well served by a night in jail, you should ask yourself if you have a drinking problem.
Again, no risk, no reason for concern, no reason for testing. EWH
Infections, including HIV, hepatitis C, and other STDs die quickly in the environment and are not transmitted by inanimate objects, even to people who have open cuts and scrapes. You have absolutely no reason for concern related to risk for infection during your stay in jail. On the other hand, if you were drinking enough for the local authorities to feel that you would be well served by a night in jail, you should ask yourself if you have a drinking problem.
Again, no risk, no reason for concern, no reason for testing. EWH
*Vaccinated against B, sorry.
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