POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: Sonny D on October 17, 2013, 09:50:31 am
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Hi,
Recently a colleague and I were sharing a cubicle and he had a nasty cough. On more than one occasion he coughed on my face. What worries me is that he mentioned that there were traces of blood in his phlegm. While I don't know about his HIV status I wanted to know if I am at risk.
I think some of his phlegm/saliva mixed with blood fell on my eyes, nose & maybe even my mouth. Is this a transmission risk? Would that quantity of blood be sufficient to transmit the virus?
I would like to point out that I did not have any open cuts or sores in my mouth.
Thanks for your help.
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Sonny,
Coughing is not in any way, shape or form an hiv transmission vector. Whatever details you can think of to add do not matter. Coughing does not transmit hiv.
In adults, hiv IS transmitted through:
Unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.
Sharing drug injecting equipment.
And that's IT.
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.
WHILE YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO TEST FOR HIV AFTER BEING COUGHED ON, 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. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!
Ann
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Hi,
While having lunch at a large table in my office cafeteria I suddenly felt a drop hit me in my eye. Upon closer examination in the mirror. I realized it was a drop of blood. I have absolutely no idea whose blood it was or where it came from.
In case the blood was from someone who is HIV+ then what are the chances of transmission? Is it a zero risk scenario or low risk? Does this incident merit getting a test done?
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Please only post in this one thread and do not start another no matter how long its been between visits . If you have trouble finding your thread go to your profile and select show own post and it will take you here .
Please read Ann's advice , it answers your new concern as well . HIV is not transmitted in the manner you are concerned with .