Ingo:
Hello, can you help me with these doubts: I am always afraid of accidentally pricking myself with needles and getting HIV, (sometimes I feel like they are pricking me) I know that I should seek psychological help, I have already read some similar cases in this forum, but I have doubts. the following: How is a needle stick different from injecting drugs? Is the drop of blood left in a hollow needle enough to become infected with HIV or is more blood needed? Can I live in peace without fear of being stuck with needles? Can you explain to me how HIV infection occurs through needles?
Jim Allen:
Hiya.
--- Quote ---I am always afraid of accidentally pricking myself with needles and getting HIV, (sometimes I feel like they are pricking me) I know that I should seek psychological help --- End quote ---
Are you in contact with sharps/syringes often? Do you have a substance use disorder and hence in contact with hollow needles or are you working in healthcare? Whats the story
Ingo:
Since I was little, two cousins would prick me with sewing needles and even with new hollow needles, and they would tell me you have HIV and they would laugh, that's why I have an obsessive compulsive disorder with this issue, I will seek professional psychological help, I am also afraid of sex, but Please be understanding with me and explain to me what transmission through needles is like, I no longer want to live always thinking about HIV. Is a single prick, a drop of blood on a hollow needle, enough for HIV transmission? Explain to me, please. A man named Andy Vélez read that it said that it is a fragile virus for that, but what does fragile mean?
Jim Allen:
--- Quote from: Ingo on August 24, 2024, 03:28:34 pm ---Since I was little, two cousins would prick me with sewing needles and even with new hollow needles, and they would tell me you have HIV and they would laugh, that's why I have an obsessive compulsive disorder with this issue, I will seek professional psychological help, I am also afraid of sex, but Please be understanding with me and explain to me what transmission through needles is like, I no longer want to live always thinking about HIV. Is a single prick, a drop of blood on a hollow needle, enough for HIV transmission? Explain to me, please. A man named Andy Vélez read that it said that it is a fragile virus for that, but what does fragile mean?
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I can see how that could cause some trauma. Anyhow, thanks for the clarification, it was necessary to ask as it helps me to understand the situation and focus my answer.
--- Quote ---How is a needle stick different from injecting drugs? Is the drop of blood left in a hollow needle enough to become infected with HIV or is more blood needed? Can you explain to me how HIV infection occurs through needles? --- End quote ---
So it is an HIV risk when sharing hollow needles (syringes) during drug use due to the volume of fresh fluids containing HIV that are kept within a vacuum, so they are not exposed to the environment that is (re)-injected within a very short time directly into the bloodstream directly bypassing several immune barriers. Hence sharing needles to inject drugs with someone living with HIV is considered a 90+% risk of acquiring HIV.
However, your concern is community contact, meaning accidentally picking yourself on a discarded needle, that isn't an HIV risk, it's not injecting any volume of fluids and any HIV (if) present within the hollow needle that ultimately would enter from a simply stick would be too minute and additionally would already have lost the ability to infect (fragile) as the receptors needed to infect corrode outside the human body due to contact with the environment and temperature changes etc. Hence accidental needle pricks with discarded syringes have not resulted in a single confirmed case of someone acquiring HIV in 40+ years and you will not be the world's first.
--- Quote ---I no longer want to live always thinking about HIV --- End quote ---
--- Quote ---I will seek professional psychological help --- End quote ---
Yes, I'll be honest, I can't assist you. This is a limited support environment, our focus is HIV, safer sex information and HIV risk assessments, We are not mental health therapists and a risk assesment will not assist you as your concerns are about non-existent needle sticks due to past trauma.
Please talk to a psychiatrist and I wish you all the best, take it easy.
Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks: Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV and get vaccinated against HPV, Hepatitis A & B.
Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.
Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.
Kind regards
Jim
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Ingo:
Thank you very much for your work, believe it or not, you just helped me a lot, I realized that it is a myth so when it was said that someone leaves needles in places so that you can prick yourself and get infected, I found this forum that apparently is based in science, I even read on the Internet that with a drop of blood you become infected with HIV, thank you very much, God bless you.