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What is the % chances I will get HIV from acupuncture?
Dear doctor,
About 10 weeks ago, I had 2 acupuncture sessions because of my back pain. The acupuncturist inserted about 14 needles to my back. Additionally, she also did a treatment called "Guasha", in which she applied a small amount of oil to my back, and then scratched it with a small piece of wood. This treatment left some red marks on my back.
Recently, I have a thought that I'm in the risk of HIV from the treatment I received. So, I contacted the acupuncturist asking her what kind of needles she used, and if the Guasha had any risks of bloodborne diseases transmission.
The acupuncturist confirmed that the needles used in the sessions were sterile stainless needles. They got used only once and then thrown away. About guasha, she said that it does not have any risks because it does not break the skin barrier. In fact, I was not bleeding at all and all the marks on back were gone away after 3 days.
Furthermore, during the sessions, I heard the sound of packets being torn every time the acupuncturist tried to insert a needle. At the end of the sessions, I also heard the sound when she opened the trash can to throw the needles away. However, I really don't believe in what the acupuncturist told me, and my mind just keeps convincing myself that I've caught HIV. When I got a sore throat 1 week ago, I thought it was an HIV symptom even though the soreness was gone after a day. But this thought about HIV really gets me sleepless for nights. Please give me advices.
Thank you so much.
About 10 weeks ago, I had 2 acupuncture sessions because of my back pain. The acupuncturist inserted about 14 needles to my back. Additionally, she also did a treatment called "Guasha", in which she applied a small amount of oil to my back, and then scratched it with a small piece of wood. This treatment left some red marks on my back.
Recently, I have a thought that I'm in the risk of HIV from the treatment I received. So, I contacted the acupuncturist asking her what kind of needles she used, and if the Guasha had any risks of bloodborne diseases transmission.
The acupuncturist confirmed that the needles used in the sessions were sterile stainless needles. They got used only once and then thrown away. About guasha, she said that it does not have any risks because it does not break the skin barrier. In fact, I was not bleeding at all and all the marks on back were gone away after 3 days.
Furthermore, during the sessions, I heard the sound of packets being torn every time the acupuncturist tried to insert a needle. At the end of the sessions, I also heard the sound when she opened the trash can to throw the needles away. However, I really don't believe in what the acupuncturist told me, and my mind just keeps convincing myself that I've caught HIV. When I got a sore throat 1 week ago, I thought it was an HIV symptom even though the soreness was gone after a day. But this thought about HIV really gets me sleepless for nights. Please give me advices.
Thank you so much.
Additional info: The acupuncturist confirmed that she used sterile SINGLE USE needles.
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