Is this even a risk, let me know

[veron747]

Hi DR.,
  I have had something on my mind for years now:) Four years ago, I know forever ago, whe I was preganant wiith my fourth child I had a pedicure. The girl actually shaved the hair off my big toes with a razor. She nicked me, more of a surface scratch, but when I left I noticed the scratch did produce a few drops of blood. This didn't bother me for awhile, but in light of something that happened I am concerned again. Was there any risk with this or do you think it is a non issue?I have geographic tongue and it sometimes burns where the red parts are. They migrate so the red spots can be indifferent places. My concern is my tongue gets pretty coated looking, especially towards the back where your gag reflex is. I will add that I am in a monogamous married relationship of 11 years. I will also add that I am not always the best about brushing my tongue or drinking a lot of water, and I do drink coffee in the morning. The dentiost said it looked pretty coated, but didn't think anything of it.If it were candida, this coating I noticed three months ago, woldn't it have migrated to my palate, gums, and inside of cheeks?Do you think I am being hysterical about this pedicure thing? In some ways I hop I am!!

[veron747]

Ok. I am sorry, I didn't mean to beat a dead horse!!! I will officially let this go, when thinking about it I guess it does seem absurd. Really, had the tongue thing not occured I don't think i would have given it a second thought:)

[Edward W Hook, MD]

One last time- no risk.  Obviuosly htere is no precise answer to how long it takes blood to tdry.  It depends on how much, temperature and otehr things.  This is the end of this line of responses.  EWH

[veron747]

Thanks. I appreciate it. I really hated being such a nervous Nelly about this. Even if it wasn't clean, thinking logically, there is just NO WAY!! Doesn't the virus die on environmental objects pretty quickly?Also, how long does it take blood to dry, I know you can't give an exact, but a roundabout would be great.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

it is not candida.

To be honest, people with HIV can be asymptomatic for up to 10 years.  Having said that, let me once again reassure you that you do not have HIV.  EWH

[veron747]

Thanks. I have not taken antibiotics and I am not diabetic. I will talk to my dentist, Is it safe to assume that it would spread if it were candida, though? Also, one last thing then I am releasing this issue:) The pedicure thing being 4 years ago, I sort of thought I was being stupid because I probably would have noticed something weird by now? If you feel it is a non issue then I feel good. I hate that i worried about this for so long and wish that I had come to you before now.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, you really do not need testing.

As for the causes of a coated tongue, that really is a conversation it would be better to have with your dentist than with me.  Many people have gray or "coated" tongues.  In addition, while your coating does not sound like candida (thrush), this infection can occur in persons who are not deathly  ill.  Many peole who have recently taken antibiotics or who are diabetic get such infections

Hope this helps.  EWH

[veron747]

Dr, Hook,
  Thanks so much. So I feel really comfortable with your answer, that is why I came to you:) Since you feel it just is a zero risk scenario, I truly don't need further testing? Also, it was four years ago and the only thing I have had is sinus infections, heck I don't even recall having a fever in the past four years, maybe one fever at the most.
I don't want to bother you, buit could you elaborate on the coated tongue thing, It does look pretty gross, but I really noticed it three months ago. If it were candida wouldn't it have spread to my palate, gums,and inside of cheeks by now? Also, if I had candida due to hiv wouldn't I be really deathly ill? I of course am no expert, but from what I have read I am thinking it might be true. Thanks for everything. I have 4 little ones so my health is always of great concern.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The real central question is, could you have gotten HIV from having been nicked by a razor in the course of a pedicure.  The answer to your question is there is virtually no risk from an exposure of this sort.  While there is a hypothetical possibility, the fact of the matter is that there are no documented cases of HIV transmission in the manner you suggest.  Remember that HIV survives very poorly outside of the body and is very sensitive to drying, air exposure and other environmental conditions.  Furthermore, for you to get HIV in the manner you suggest, the virus would need to be on the razor (presumably in blood) and that in the process of nicking you, that blood was transferred into your body.  The chances that there was blood on the razor, that the person before you had HIV, that was infectious and that it was introduced into your blood stream are essentially zero.  

Your symptoms/coated tongue are not worrisome or suggestive of HIV.

Bottom line, your risk from the exposure you describe is essentially zero.  From a medical perspective there is no reason whatsoever for you to worry or to seek testing.  On the other hand, if the concern continues to trouble you, then I would suggest you get tested.  The test will be negative proving you have nothing to worry about.

Hope this helps.  EWH