Can I be infected with hiv?

[Alaska0901]

Dear Doctor!
I am asking this question, because I am really worried about my health.
A few days ago I went shopping with my mother and we had to call for a cab because we had a lot of luggages. When the cab arrived the chauffeur (an old man) helped us to put the stuff inside. Accidentally, when I was giving him one of the luggages he cut my finger with his sharp nail. I was scared so I immediately run to the bathroom of the store and washed my finger and hand with the available soap there. My finger was bleeding.It took as approximately 5-7 minutes to arrive home. As soon as I arrived home I washed my hand and finger with other soaps. I also used hand sanitizer and i put my finger into vinegar and i also put parfume on it . I am really scared if I contacted hiv from this man because he was itching his leg and was very old and looked shady. Is it possible that I aquired hiv from him? Should I be worried, because the cut was very deep and he did not look like he washes his hand regularly? Is there a possibility, that there are virus particles under his nail, because he was itching? A few days later ( 1-2 day) i also developed flu-like symptoms and tingling sensation in my hands and feet.
Thank you for your kind answers doctor!
A worried lady!

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question has been fully answered by our members at this point that this was not a risk.  We are now closing this thread.

***  thread closed ***

[Chima7]

Just because he looked shady doesn't mean he had HIV. People with HIV look just like anyone else. It's hurtful and inappropriate to assume people with HIV are dirty or shady or otherwise different from anyone else who is walking around living their life. It's because of people like you that there is still such a groundless stigma against people living with HIV.

[Alaska0901]

Ok , sorry for the term that I used. I am just really scared.

[Alaska0901]

Because I have flue- like symptoms and it is the middle of the summer and I am not the sick-type.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Instead of obsessing over your self diagnosed symptoms (which are likely just in your imagination anyway), you need to reread the advice which you are ignoring. Your cut did not resemble what guitarrock said it would have to be because you didn't have to go to a hospital as you would need to do and the other person would also have to go.

[Alaska0901]

Ok thanks for the answer again. Sorry, but I did not understand.if you want I can send you a picture of my wounded finger. It is a deep wound and if the man was itching something and then he had blood under his nails. What if  that is the scenario?

[Alaska0901]

And by the way I am NOT lying!

[Chima7]

The type of deep wound that would even remotely be a risk would require immediate medical attention due to massive blood loss. I highly doubt your little nick was that level of an emergency.

[Alaska0901]

I live in Eastern Europe  and here nobody cares if you have hiv.  There are even people who do not know about their status and do not take medications. This old man(?) may have not known or he did not care to take his medication. And he was itching his groin area very vehemently. Anyways thank you for your answers!  
XXX

[AnxiousNoMore]

None of that has anything to do with the fact that you had no risk. You are making up your own HIV science because you haven't listened to ANYTHING that you have been told here.

[Alaska0901]

Thank you for the answers!

[Alaska0901]

My last question. What if there were virus particles under his nail? Could the infection still be impossible?
This was my last question and really thank you for all the answers! I hope I did not bother anybody!

[AnxiousNoMore]

HIV is independent of other people's looks so your fears are accentuated by irrelevant concerns. Only non-sex risk for HIv is sharing hollow needles that you inject with and you were a long ways from that. So you are safe. HIV is instantly dead in air, otherwise everyone would get it, which makes all the washing a waste of time.
Likely your symptoms are in your imagination from fear.

[Alaska0901]

Thank you for the answer!
I still have a concern though, because it was a deep cut and I am afraid that his nails were not clean, maybe some virus particles were under his nail because he was itching. If I washed my hand and wound can i still have hiv?

[GuitarRox]

How deep could a cut from someone's nail when handing something to you or taking something out of your hand be?  Come on.  Really, let's not over blow the situation.  Is he Wolverine with knives for fingers?  No.  The only kind of issue is if YOU have a huge gaping wound (like have to go to the emergency room for it, not just apply band aid) and the person who is HIV + also has a profusely bleeding wound.  Air inactivates the virus.  You will not get HIV from what you describe.  The only way adults get HIV is from unprotected vaginal or anal sex or sharing of IV drug needles.  This was not a risk. Hope your cut is healed up soon. Use some Neosporin so it doesn't get infected.  But you would not get HIV from this.

[Alaska0901]

Ok thank you for the answer! My cut was bleeding and it was as if he cut my finger with a knife and also, I washed my wound immediately, hopefully that helped.