What are the chances???

[babagnsh]

Today, I was playing basketball at a local park and when i was playing for some reason i looked at my finger and i saw some blood around the top of my finger. It wasn't a lot (maybe a couple of drops) and it was only in the crack between my skin and my fingernail in the front of the nail, needless to say... without thinking I put that finger in my mouth without thinking anything of it and sucked all the blood real quick.  I thought that it was just my blood and that i probably just got hit on the nail or something which created the blood. Now I'm worried if that was someone Else's blood and i had stupidly put the finger in my mouth. I am worried and scared and want to know if i need to be tested for this event.. Also, i have done some reading and i want to know what kind of test to take.

I know from school that HIV can be transmitted via blood, semen, etc.  I had a small wound in my mouth from when I jumped up for the ball and bit my cheek?  Could this be the blood to blood transfer?  Please let me know...

[babagnsh]

The blood was probably on my finger for a couple of minutes, don't know if that information matters?

[Matty the Damned]

Baba,

Oy. The old basketball story.

Nothing you describe can be considered a risk for HIV transmission. Even if it was someone else's blood on your finger. Human saliva contains more than a dozen substances which inhibit HIV.

HIV is transmitted via unprotected anal and vaginal sex, sharing contaminated injecting equipment such as needles and syringes and in some cases from HIV positive mother to her unborn child.

You were not at risk of HIV infection and you do not need to be tested for HIV as a result of this incident.

Please take the time to read our Welcome Thread and follow the links to our lessons on HIV transmission.

MtD

[babagnsh]

Mr. Matty The Damned,

I am telling the truth.  I was extremely nervous about this incident.  Apparently others have posted about playing basketball and getting blood on theiir finger?  The reason I'm worried is because I am certain now that it was not my blood.  I have no cuts anyhwhere on my fingers and I had a cut in my mouth.  Thank you for taking the time to answer.  If you have another minute, could you tell me why this is a "no risk" as opposed to a "low risk".  Everywhere else states some form of risk.  Thank you again.

[Matty the Damned]

Mr. Matty The Damned,

I am telling the truth.  I was extremely nervous about this incident.  Apparently others have posted about playing basketball and getting blood on theiir finger?  The reason I'm worried is because I am certain now that it was not my blood.  I have no cuts anyhwhere on my fingers and I had a cut in my mouth.  Thank you for taking the time to answer.  If you have another minute, could you tell me why this is a "no risk" as opposed to a "low risk".  Everywhere else states some form of risk.  Thank you again.

Baba,

I believe you are telling the truth. We assume good faith here. It's just that the every couple of years or so we get someone posting about contract HIV in exactly the manner you describe.

I was commenting on the coinicidence, not your honesty. Sorry for any confusion.

We here at AIDSmeds cannot vouch for what is said on other websites.

HIV is a fragile, fussy virus. It is transmitted in very particular ways, like those I mentioned above. It doesn't survive outside of the body (ie on your finger or on a basketball) for very long. Also as I mentioned above, it doesn't survive in the hostile environment of the human mouth.

If I thought you were at any risk I would tell you. You were not at risk and you don't need to be tested for HIV.

MtD

[babagnsh]

Mr. Matty,

Thank you for the response.  I read through the Welcome Thread like you told me and saw that HIV is transmitted via unprotected sex and sharing needles.  I saw that it stated in healthcare settings, what did they mean by that?  Also, I read some of your threads and saw one other case where a person asked about swallowing blood.  They too were told that they were not at risk.  Is the risk nil because of the environment or because of my mouth?  Does HIV not survive outside of the body, so it doesn't matter that I swallowed it or does it survive and because it was in my mouth my saliva killed it.  Just asking for clarification.  Thanks again for your response.

[Matty the Damned]

Baba,

Firstly, You don't have to call me "Mr Matty". My name is "Matty" and that will do just fine.

Thank you for reading our Transmission lesson. The section on healthcare settings you're referring to reads:

Transmission in health care settings. Healthcare professionals have been infected with HIV in the workplace, usually after being stuck with needles or sharp objects containing HIV-infected blood. As for HIV-positive healthcare providers infecting their patients, there have only been six documented cases, all involving the same HIV-positive dentist in the 1980s.

This is simply saying that there have been occasions when healthcare workers have been infected after being inadvertently stuck by a sharp medical object contaminated with HIV. It goes onto to say that in the 1980s 6 people were infected by an HIV positive dentist during dental procedures.

There have been no other documented cases of patients being infected by positive health care workers since then largely as a result of the use of modern universal cross infection procedures.

You do not have to be concerned about occupational HIV transmission.

As we've noted in other threads, HIV is not transmitted via swallowing blood. This is usually due to a combination of the swallowed blood being exposed to air AND the hostile environment of the human mouth and gut. If HIV was to survive being in someone's mouth there is no way it could survive the incredibly acidic environment of the human stomach.

As I originally said, you were not at risk of HIV infection and you do not need to be tested.

MtD

[babagnsh]

Matt,

Thank you for your response and for all the information.  I learned a lot.  God Bless the work all of you do.

BGSH