Infection Via Burn - Concerned About Baby Son

[barryriley]

Hello Folks,

I was wondering if someone could provide a little guidance around a concern I have for my 5 month old baby son. I will apologize in advance if this seems like an inappropriate concern, but since it involves my child, I'm having a little difficulty thinking rationally and reading through the FAQs to understand if he's at any risk. So I thought I would try to get some expert opinions.

My son is at an age where he constantly puts everything in his mouth, especially his hands. My friend who is extremely close to me vists often and is absolutely nuts about my kid.

The last time he visited, he had a burn on the side of his middle finger that was probably about 3 days or more old. It wasn't covered with any bandaging as it wasn't bothering him that much. He played around a lot with my son that day. He obviously didn't insert his burn into my son's mouth, but my concern is that my son may have touched his burn at some point with his hands and then inserted them into his mouth as he seems to do every few minutes. Skin to skin contact I realize is no risk, but I'm worried about if there was a tiny bit of puss leaking from his burn at the time. Would my son be at risk?

I didn't notice the burn the day that we were with my kid, but did notice it on his hand a couple of days later. Since we are very close, I asked my friend about the burn, and he honestly said he is pretty sure that it was never bleeding or leaking pus. He never noticed it at least, but I guess it's hard to be 100% positive unless you are looking for it.

As for my friend's HIV status, I know he has led a riskier lifestyle than I have, but I don't know if he's infected or not.

Anyway, I'm wondering if I could get an expert opinion or two on whether my son was at risk from this event. Thank you all very much in advance.

Barry

[Andy Velez]

You're worrying needlessly. Even IF your friend is HIV+ and even IF your infant son put his finger or whatever into his mouth, there wouldn't have been any risk for transmission in that manner. HIV is a fragile virus. It is not transmitted  via kissing, sucking, touching or anything like that. It needs the kind of receptive setting provided by unprotected intercourse (vaginal, anal).

Saliva contains over a dozen elements which very effectively inhibit HIV's transmission.

This was a no risk incident. Period.

[barryriley]

Thank you Andy. Your response is much appreciated and has helped me out tremendously.

I thank you for the wonderful work you are all doing on this forum.

[barryriley]

Hi Andy,

I had a quick followup question for you as well. I'm reading up on HIV Transmission and learning more about the disease. I am definitely comfortable now and understand that my son couldn't have been infected throught the circumstances I described in my last post.

My son does scratch his face frequently at his age though, and sometimes we see scabs where he has scratched himself particularly deeply. If he was kissed where he had scratched himself by someone who had a chapped lip that was bleeding, or a shaving cut, is there any risk? I'm not speaking about the circumstances happening only theoretically here, as I know my friend also has freqently chapped lips that somtimes bleed, and also gets shaving cuts frequently.

Thanks, and last question I think. 

[RapidRod]

No risk.

[Andy Velez]

Being kissed on a scratch or wound and kissing in general are absolutely not a risk for HIV transmission. If you haven't already read our lesson on Transmission I suggest you do so. HIV is a fragile virus. It's transmitted only through very limited ways -- sexually via unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse and otherwise through the sharing of intravenously used needles and the occasional and rare puncture in a hospital setting.

You continue to bother yourself needlessly. 

[barryriley]

Thank you Rod and Andy. I believe you are correct, I am bothering myself needlessly. I do believe you both and deep down inside I think I knew what your answers were going to be. I just needed confirmation from experts.

Thanks again for all your help. I will stop worrying now and get this out of my mind.

Barry

[Andy Velez]

That'll be the best thing for yourself and for your family. Needless anxiety is contagious and disturbing so be good to everyone, including yourself, and give it up.

[barryriley]

Thank you sir. I will.