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Is this a risky encounter?
Hi,
This is the first time that I'm posting here and so sorry if I sound stupid, but this thing has been worrying me for sometime now.
About a month ago, a my friend visited us. I later came to know that he is HIV+.
My brother and I were playing with him in the lawn. There was a bush which had thorns in it. My friend collided scraped against the bush and something scratched/bruised him from over his T-shirt. After playing I noticed that my brother and I had some scratches/minor bruises.
This is really worrying me and I am a lot worried about my brother as well.
As far as I know about my friend's injury is that he was not bleeding visibly. He had two small scratches on this arm - the ones which turn into little red stitch like lines that come off if you scrape them with your nails.
I do not know if this was a risky encounter or not. Please help me.
This is the first time that I'm posting here and so sorry if I sound stupid, but this thing has been worrying me for sometime now.
About a month ago, a my friend visited us. I later came to know that he is HIV+.
My brother and I were playing with him in the lawn. There was a bush which had thorns in it. My friend collided scraped against the bush and something scratched/bruised him from over his T-shirt. After playing I noticed that my brother and I had some scratches/minor bruises.
This is really worrying me and I am a lot worried about my brother as well.
As far as I know about my friend's injury is that he was not bleeding visibly. He had two small scratches on this arm - the ones which turn into little red stitch like lines that come off if you scrape them with your nails.
I do not know if this was a risky encounter or not. Please help me.
Hi Lizzie,
Thanks a lot for your answer. Your last answer relieved a lot of stress for me. I am trying to understand more.
I know that my friend was not bleeding visibly, but he did get two red scratch marks on his arm. The skin did break, but I do not think that the injury was deep. Also, I do not remember if we also got scratches from the thorns immediately after him or not.
It worries me when people say that there is very low risk. If this is low risk, there still is some risk ? Should I get tested for this and ask my brother to do the same or should I forget about this.
Sorry if it seems that I need some reassurance over this encounter.
Thanks again for your time and help.
Thanks a lot for your answer. Your last answer relieved a lot of stress for me. I am trying to understand more.
I know that my friend was not bleeding visibly, but he did get two red scratch marks on his arm. The skin did break, but I do not think that the injury was deep. Also, I do not remember if we also got scratches from the thorns immediately after him or not.
It worries me when people say that there is very low risk. If this is low risk, there still is some risk ? Should I get tested for this and ask my brother to do the same or should I forget about this.
Sorry if it seems that I need some reassurance over this encounter.
Thanks again for your time and help.
FROM THE MOUTH OF DR HANSFIELD:
"HIV isn't so easily transmitted. Minor cuts and trivial blood exposures simply don't create a measurable risk. Like many persons, you seem to think that "just one virus" is enough to transmit the infection. That is not the case. Substantial amounts of infected blood or secretions have to be introduced into the body in a way that exposes certain cells to the virus. If HIV could be transmitted in the ways you are worrying about, AIDS would be 100 times more common than it is and would not be classified as an STD."
so as you can see...nothing that you are describing, put you at risk for hiv.
"HIV isn't so easily transmitted. Minor cuts and trivial blood exposures simply don't create a measurable risk. Like many persons, you seem to think that "just one virus" is enough to transmit the infection. That is not the case. Substantial amounts of infected blood or secretions have to be introduced into the body in a way that exposes certain cells to the virus. If HIV could be transmitted in the ways you are worrying about, AIDS would be 100 times more common than it is and would not be classified as an STD."
so as you can see...nothing that you are describing, put you at risk for hiv.
Hi Lizzie, thanks. But it is quite possible that we also got bruised by the same bush/thorns with which my friend got himself hurt. There was only one bush with thorns and we were playing quite close to it. Wouldn't this be risky?
I have read a lot about HIV transmission, but people say that if somebody gets hurt by some object and immediately after that someone else also gets injured by the same object then there is a risk of transmission. This is worrying me.
I have read a lot about HIV transmission, but people say that if somebody gets hurt by some object and immediately after that someone else also gets injured by the same object then there is a risk of transmission. This is worrying me.
no risk ! ! !
hiv is transmitted through...
unprotected vaginal/anal intercourse
sharing iv drug works
mother to child
hiv is transmitted through...
unprotected vaginal/anal intercourse
sharing iv drug works
mother to child
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