Very worried mom

[Worriedmom321]

Hello
I have a daughter 9 years old. Today took her to park and in middle of playing on swing she came crying to me. When I looked saw a discarded needle had poked her. Took the needle out there was some bleeding and the needle defiantly pierced the skin.

Now I am so worried about HIV I am really hoping I did not put my daughter in grave danger. What are her risks? Should I take her to ER ?

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question was answered in full by our members.

***  thread closed ***

[GuitarRox]

What happened to your daughter is rare. A discarded needle poked her how exactly? Usually when someone writes this, they have significant anxiety and ocd type fears. But regardless, it is not a risk. HIV is not passed this way. The ONLY ways to get HIV are to have unprotected anal or vaginal sex or share IV needles to INJECT drugs. Injecting drugs is much different than a needle stick/poke. Air inactivates the virus. The end of a discarded needle is exposed to air. It is not going to infect anyone and is quite different than an injection. So, no risk. At all.

[Worriedmom321]

Thank you for your response. I don’t have ocd and am really worried she got stuck in park she running around. The needle poked side of her feet and was lodged in when I saw it. So you are saying it’s no risk for HIV and I don’t have to take her to ER? Then why they say Needlestick is risky I am so confused.

[GuitarRox]

I've never seen a supposed needle poke post that wasn't made by someone that didn't have ocd/anxiety. You are really 'worried' means you don't know. She probably didn't. but please read my post. I explained WHY a needle stick is not risky. The needle is exposed to air. It's not a vacuum sealed injection, but a poke, Air inactivates the virus. People don't get HIV after being poked by an object. And really? It probably didn't even happen. Take some deep breaths and treat your anxiety/ocd as the disorder that is the problem here.

[AnxiousNoMore]

What do you mean "the needle was lodged in"? Was the needle attached to the syringe and stuck in the side of her foot (so it went through her shoe?) while she ran around?

[Worriedmom321]

She was not wearying any shoes while running around park. When she came back crying I saw only needle on side of her foot that I took out.

[GuitarRox]

Whether she stepped on a lancet or not (I believe not), it's not a risk. Focus on that. We don't need anymore discussion and we don't need to keep reassuring you as that is the exact wrong thing to do when ocd is driving such fears as it is here. Talk to your doctor about treatment for ocd/anxiety. That's how to make this better. If you have children, you owe it to them. Living with a parent with mental illness and their freaking out over nothing all the time takes a drastic toll on their own mental health. Last time, once and for all, this is no risk.

[Worriedmom321]

Thank you Guitar just to be clear it was not lancet but a needle without syringe. So to close this discussion and topic it’s No Risk per your assessment right? Appreciate your support and you maybe right I am getting anxious as it’s related to my daughter but the incidence did happen and I am so mad to whoever would dump a needle near park where kids play.