laurena:
About five weeks ago, I did one line of cocaine, using the same straw that someone infected with HIV used minutes earlier. I've read really conflicting things about this as a possible route of exposure and cannot get a straight answer that makes me feel comfortable. I am so scared even though it sounds like the chances are remote. What if there was blood on the straw that I did not see??
Furthermore, I've had symptoms in the last few weeks that seem to fall into the realm of potential ARS. Including: headaches (primarily pain behind my eyes) starting 1 week after the incident that have persisted to this very day, fatigue and nausea (which started about 2 weeks after the incident and lasted a few days), and mild sore throat (which started about 2 weeks after the incident and has persisted). I also got a small rash on my upper thigh.
My Dr. said I had nothing to worry about but I am still concerned and wanted to get the opinion of experts in HIV and ARS.
Please tell me if I have anything to be worried about and if this necessitates a blood test in a couple of months. My most recent HIV test was negative.
Ann:
Laurena,
I agree with your doctor. Using a straw to snort drugs after a person with hiv is not a risk for hiv infection. Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus which is primarily transmitted through unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.
However, there is mounting evidence that it is possible to transmit the hepatitis C virus through sharing straws to snort drugs. Hep C is a much, much more robust virus than hiv is and for this reason it is wise to never share straws for drug use. It's easy enough to roll something out of paper or money, so why take chances.
Again, you did NOT have a risk of hiv transmission in what you describe. Please read though the HIV Transmission Lesson