Possible HIV exposure?

[melbournian95]

Hey
I've just registered to this forum as I am pretty paranoid at a possibility of contracting the HIV virus. The other day I was the beach where I stepped on something really sharp. It didn't cross my mind to go have a look at what it could be, until I started getting paranoid. I have convinced myself that I may have stepped on a dirty syringe, and it has been bugging me ever since. I checked underneath my foot and surely enough there was a puncture in my skin and a drop of blood.
I am only a teenager and it has got me worried.
The question I'm trying to get across is whether or not this is a way of getting the virus?
Should I go to the doctors and get myself checked?
Thank you

[RapidRod]

Had it been a syringe which I doubt, you would not have been at risk of contracting HIV.

[melbournian95]

Thank you
But I've always assumed that this was a method of acquiring it...
And also seeing as I'm new to this website, are the Moderators/Admins medically qualified or? Would be appreciated and would finally put my mind at ease

[Ann]

Mel,

Those of us who are authorised to answer questions in this forum are not doctors, but we have been involved in hiv education for between 30 and 10 years. All of our risk assessments are based in scientific fact, not hysteria.

Being infected with hiv from syringes lying around in public spaces is an urban myth. Nobody has ever been infected that way and you are not going to be the first. You do not need to test over this incident.

The main way people get infected these days is through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse. While you may not yet be sexually active, you may as well learn how to protect yourself while you're here.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid 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 sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

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

If you are not yet sexually active, the following paragraphs about testing contain information you should keep in mind as you grow to be a young adult. You only need to start having routine check ups when you're sexually active.

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, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[melbournian95]

Thats officially put my mind to ease, thank you so much !
And im presuming that people don't get infected like this is because HIV doesn't last long out of the body? I just get paranoid really quickly..
And i also read that the chance of transmission is around 0.3 %, is this fact?
And no i am not yet sexually active but thank you so much for your advice, this was such a detailed response!

[Ann]

Mel,

Yes, it's because hiv is fragile and small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect.

When needles are immediately shared for the purpose of injecting street drugs, it is an entirely different matter as fresh blood is being directly injected into a person's vein. This doesn't even come close to what happens when getting pricked by a needle.

And no, any time you see hiv "information" claiming that such-and-such an activity carries x.x % chance of infection, ignore it. Those numbers were pretty much plucked out of thin air years ago. Although the study they originate from has long since been discredited, many websites and other sources of hiv info continue to use them. Don't ask me why, I wish I knew!

You absolutely did not have a risk for hiv infection, so relax.

Ann

[Ann]

Mel,

I have removed your PM privilege. If you read the Welcome Thread before posting like you're supposed to, you will have read the following posting guideline:

Do NOT use Private Messages to question other members about any transmission, testing or symptom issues. These issues must be discussed in the public forum. Misuse of the PM function in this manner will result in your PM privileges being removed without warning.

To answer the question you (illegally ) asked via PM - Yes!!! I GENUINELY believe know you have NOTHING to worry about!

You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection. If you had, we would NOT hesitate to tell you and let you know that you need to test.

You have NOT had a risk.

You do NOT need to test!

There's another posting guideline you should have read before posting...

Anyone who continues to post excessively, questioning a conclusive negative result or NO RISK SITUATION, will be subject to a four week Time Out (a temporary ban from the Forums). If you continue to post excessively after one Time Out, you may be given a second Time Out which will last eight weeks. There is no third Time Out - it is a permanent ban. The purpose of a Time Out is to encourage you to seek the face-to-face help we cannot provide on this forum.

Please consider yourself warned!

If you cannot let this go, please seek counselling. Your school may have a counsellor available. We cannot help you with your irrational fears in this setting.

Ann

[melbournian95]

Sorry, I'm going to read the Terms and Conditions now, I just jumped on and posted this question as I was worried.
Sorry to bother, its just I'm stressed with personal life as well, and couldn't comprehend that I may have contracted HIV, so I panicked.
Thanks Ann, you've been of much help, wish you all the best in the new year

[Ann]

Mel,

The rules governing the Am I Infected forum are not found in the Terms and Conditions of this website, they are found in the Welcome thread I linked you to above in my previous post. They are slightly different to - and stricter than - the rules governing the rest of the forums. Get reading!

All the best to you too. Rest assured that you are not going into the New Year with hiv.

Ann

[melbournian95]

Well for a couple of days and i thought i was fine with it all
Ann, if you do reply to this, i'm sorry for sounding like a nuisance and ignorant, but my mind is still saying what if

Look, i'll ask this one more time and then i won't ask any more questions

I have again began asking questions and I'm being seriously irrational and paranoid. Like now its got me thinking that somehow the syringe was tilted upright and as I landed on it, the plunger depressed. Like really, how sad is that?
Like in my head I'm thinking, I'm fine, but then a few seconds later I'm thinking worst case scenario.
One last thing, an hour after, i felt like absolute crap. I felt like my body was a tonne of bricks and my stomach just felt bad.
I'm probably just overthinking and I'm stressing more than i should be....

you must think i'm the stupidest person right now

[Ann]

Mel,

The symptoms of a new hiv infection do not happen an hour after infection has taken place. They do not happen until two or three weeks have passed.

I don't think you're being stupid, but I do think you're allowing the fear of hiv infection and the stigma that goes along with it to cloud your judgement and ability to trust the science of hiv transmission.

I'm sorry, but we cannot help you with your irrational fears here. I suggest you seek counselling to help you cope with this NO RISK situation.

And if you really cannot bring yourself to trust us when we tell you there was no risk in your situation, go test, collect your negative result and get on with your life.

I'm giving you that time out you've been warned about. Do not attempt to create a new account to get around your time out because if you do, you will be permanently banned.

Ann