Author Topic: Confusion (Read 7189 times)

GirlL · « **on:** July 01, 2007, 05:53:00 am »

I had a bleeding nose. The blood was not coming outside, instead I got hardened inside. So I was very uncomfortable and was touching inside of my nose. Once I went to the wash room at my working place, I suddenly saw something reddish has hardened on my finger nail.
If it was someone else’s blood what is the risk of getting HIV? (I'm not concerned about the dried blood. I'm concerned about if I had touched inside my nose with the blood in the wet state)

RapidRod · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2007, 06:11:02 am »

You can not infect yourself. You didn't have a risk. Read the lesson on "Transmission" you can find the link in the welcome thread.

anniebc · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2007, 06:15:45 am »

This is definitely not an HIV issue...there was no risk involved.

The blood on your finger nail would have been your own if you had your finger inside your nose...think about it, how would you have someone else blood on your finger...please read the lessons here on the forum regarding "transmission"

Jan

GirlL · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2007, 06:23:41 am »

If it is my blood it is ok. I asked that question cause I'm hesitating that I got it from some where else.. cause I'm not sure from where I got it. May be its not from my nose cause blood was hardened inside my nose.

Ann · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2007, 07:36:38 am »

Girl,

Even if the blood did belong to someone else, this incident did not put you at risk for hiv infection. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.

Along with reading the Transmission Lesson, here's what you need to know so you can protect yourself against hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection. Sex with a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through all three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

GirlL · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2007, 03:38:53 am »

You say that the HIV is transmitted primarily inside human body. Then how the healthcare workers get infected via splashes into eyes, nose, etc (splashes into mucus membrane)?

Ann · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2007, 05:52:37 am »

Girl,

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

I don't recall ever reading any case reports or studies where it was proved beyond doubt that this was indeed how a healthcare worker became infected.

A scenario where a healthcare worker becomes infected via a patient is a far cry from what you are worried about. Blood lying around in the environment is very different from blood that has just that second come from the body of an infected person.

You were not at risk for hiv infection when you had your nosebleed. No way, no how.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, do not share drug injecting equipment and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple.

Ann

GirlL · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2007, 08:30:25 pm »

One more question I have to ask. I understand now that the HIV is transmitted via environmental surfaces. But then why all the web sites say that if the blood(infected) come in conact with a non-intact skin there is a risk of transmission?

RapidRod · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2007, 09:54:20 pm »

Quote

I understand now that the HIV is transmitted via environmental surfaces.

No, you cannot contract HIV from environmental surfaces. If someone was to contract blood from a positive person in a laceration that they had it is possible. Were not talking rashes, abrasions, nicks, scrapes or paper cuts. It has to be a major laceration.

GirlL · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2007, 10:09:14 pm »

Sorry i want to make the correction. I know that HIV is NOT transmitted via environmental surfaces.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2007, 08:25:32 am »

"But then why all the web sites say that if the blood(infected) come in conact with a non-intact skin there is a risk of transmission?"

Girl, I always consider such vague and blanket comments like "all the websites say..." to be suspect. We don't claim to be responsible for anything other than what we say here.

As for potential risk in terms of HIV+ blood coming into contact with non-intact skin, it's more in the domain of theoretical rather than actual. For instance, to be a genuine risk there would have to be fresh HIV+ pouring into a newly open wound. Theoretically possible but in the real world of HIV science it just doesn't happen.

We also don't like to get into theoretical conversations here, but rather to deal with specific incidents and evaluate the risk. Otherwise it's just spinning wheels and those who are anxious about the whole subject of HIV can come up with an endless number but what about if if ifs. All of the basic risks are covered in our transmission lesson which you can find by linking to it in the Welcome thread which opens this section.

GirlL · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2007, 08:58:16 am »

In the transmission modes mentioned in this site, blood spalshes to mucus membrane(like in eyes or nose) is not mentioned. Even in CDC website it is mentioned as a possible risk for workers in healthcare setting. Whats the reason for this?

Andy Velez · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2007, 09:45:11 am »

Could a possible exposure happen that way? Yes, it can. And in a healthcare setting if such a thing happens there are standard principles which have been established to follow which address the risk very quickly and effectively.

In the outside world it just doesn't happen that way although people do seem to worry about these rarified circumstances rather than focusing on the real risks for HIV in everyday life, specifically unprotected intercourse.

You seem to be investing a lot of energy into theoretical situations.

GirlL · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2007, 09:55:12 am »

Yes I know Im thinking too much.. But it made me find about HIV than ever..
On the otherhand some people are still think how they contact HIV even though they SAY that they always practiced safe sex..

RapidRod · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2007, 01:38:45 pm »

Sure they practiced safe sex and contracted HIV. If they would have, they wouldn't have contracted HIV. It's that simple.

GirlL · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2007, 12:03:08 am »

"Sure they practiced safe sex and contracted HIV"..
Whats the meaning of this RapidRod?

Ann · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2007, 05:37:33 am »

Girl,

My friend and colleague Rodney was being sarcastic.

Sometimes people lie about their sexual activities and sometimes they don't remember due to drugs and/or alcohol.

Condoms have been proven to prevent hiv infection when used correctly and consistently. Read through the three condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use them with confidence.

Ann

GirlL · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2007, 10:02:55 am »

This is to say thank you for all the people in the forum for providing valuable information. The things stated with respect to HIV transmission in some sites are very confusing.. Those miss up things with day today life..

I believe you all are the people who know the actual ways rather than theoretical ways..

Once again thank you very much for making our minds so relaxed...

GirlL · « **Reply #18 on:** June 25, 2008, 03:19:28 am »

Dear Ann,

In one post I saw a person asking for the reason for the survival of HIV in stored blood if the HIV virus cannot be in active state when it is outside the body. Could you find the answer for that? I tried to find it. But could not. So if you could find the reason I'm interested to know that.
Thanks.

P.S.
Sorry for posting this in a new thread. Initially i tried this. Then it gave a warning as follows.

Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 60 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.

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Author Topic: Confusion (Read 7189 times)