May be a common question but still need your help to answer!

[Allswell82]

Hi all,

Just seem to get this incident out of my head and do hope that I will be okay. Here goes:

I found a small spot of blood on my palm yesterday and do not know who it belongs to. I do not recall touching anyone and getting their blood on my hands. I went to wash it with soap. My questions, and I hope that you do not think I am being paranoid, are:

1. Any risk of HIV infection through my hands? There are no visible cuts on them.
2. Before I washed my hands, I stupidly sniffed the spot where the blood spot was. What if a bit of the blood (which seems pretty dry) somehow entered my mouth accidentally? I have a small, non-bleeding ulcer inside my mouth. Is there a risk?

Please help!

Thanks,
Freaked Out

[zamzam4]

The HIV virus is neither alive nor dead it is active or inactive.

A blood spot on your hand is categorically not a risk for HIV whether you  were urinating or not.

The virus needs to be introduced very deep into the venous system to find the appropriate cells in order to replicate and infect.  This would not be present on the palm of your hand or anywhere else on teh surface of your body.  Please note the use of the word deep.

In addition you would require more than just a spot of blood, you would need a large quantity to even pose a small risk.

Transmission of the HIV virus happens primarily inside the body where it never leaves the confines of the environment it thrives in and requires to survive.  Once outside they body it simply poses no threat to you at all as it is a very fragile virus and is deactivated within nano seconds.

There is nothing about your situation that is any risk whatsoever for HIV.

[interestedparty71]

There is no risk. HIV lasts outside the body for barely no time at all. The statistical likelihood of a random blood spot being HIV is minimal. Even if it was HIV, and even if the virus was still alive, it didnt have a way of entering your body.

You wont have HIV from this exposure.

[Allswell82]

Hi, I don't mean to revisit this topic but I am just worried. Thanks for your previous answers. Just one niggling thought - I am not sure when the blood came onto the palm and I went to toilet to urinate. If the blood was there on my hand, then is there a risk of HIV transmission through this way?

Promise that this is the last question regarding this scenario because I really want to move on to living life.

[RainLover71]

Hiv becomes inactive as soon as it is exposed to air and therefore is unable to infect.That is an Hiv fact.Makes no difference if the blood was still wet.Your safe.

[Allswell82]

Thanks for helping. Just a final question before I am done with my paranoia. Even if the blood was slightly wet, there is still no risk?

Thanks in advance!

[RainLover71]

1.NO 2.NO.