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Do I run a risk of getting h.iv or heppatitis!!!
I would like to have an answer without bias. The last time I asked this question, the person that answered was kind of rude. I work as an officer in a homeless shelter. I had to respond to a fight that was taking place in the elevator. When I responded, a co worker to e to step back because the guy is bleeding (he got punched in the face). I did. All of a sudden, i felt something drop on my lip. The first this i did was check my hair to see if it was wet because my hair was coming out of its pony tail when i was running. Then, I wiped my mouth. When I looked at my fingers, it didn't appear to have blood on it. It just looked wet and didn't appear to be red. The main thing is, I AM NOT SURE IF IT WAS BLOOD OR NOT. To update, probably a couple weeks after this incident, I was very very sick. It was like the flu but worse. I had cold sweats and I was shivering, loss of appetite, etc. . If this man was hiv positive or had hepatitis, would i be at risk due to the above circumstances? My lips are dry and I lick my lips a lot. I might have licked my lips after this happened. Serious answers only. My job is a very risky job and I am constantly in fear.
From everything I have read and trust me I have read it all. You are at practically 0 risk.
Sure we were. However, as many of us know, it covers the following:
Having vaginal, anal and oral sex
Getting stuck with needles
...and occasional blood spatters in the eyes and mouth.
This is where the concern was. Yes, as I've said before, the basics are know by the general public. However, when it comes to a specific situation such as this, it is very hard to differentiate. Some people say that blood spatter in the mucous membranes by an infected person is a possibility of contracting H.I.V. In my facility, it a person spits on them or throws urine at them, they are automatically thinking of H.I.V. It does not matter how much training we had. These are the type of things that happen where I work. I personally think that yes, many of us are knowledgeable of H.I.V but when their is even a tiny chance of contracting it, we get scared. I have a right to be scared. Especially if I had a severe episode of the flu where I was having chills and shakes, fevers, loss of appetite, etc. It gets scary Teak!!
Having vaginal, anal and oral sex
Getting stuck with needles
...and occasional blood spatters in the eyes and mouth.
This is where the concern was. Yes, as I've said before, the basics are know by the general public. However, when it comes to a specific situation such as this, it is very hard to differentiate. Some people say that blood spatter in the mucous membranes by an infected person is a possibility of contracting H.I.V. In my facility, it a person spits on them or throws urine at them, they are automatically thinking of H.I.V. It does not matter how much training we had. These are the type of things that happen where I work. I personally think that yes, many of us are knowledgeable of H.I.V but when their is even a tiny chance of contracting it, we get scared. I have a right to be scared. Especially if I had a severe episode of the flu where I was having chills and shakes, fevers, loss of appetite, etc. It gets scary Teak!!
So in the facility that you are employed you were never trained on infectious diseases? I don't know of one jail, prison, or juvenal facility that doesn't have a training program on bloodborne transmissions. If your facility doesn't they are in violation of the law. It's an OSHA requirement.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! I appreciate your feedback and factual information on this matter. I would do myself a favor and research more about this and other diseases. Again, I did not mean to frustrate anyone. All I wanted was answers. All everyone on this forum wants who comes on here are answers because it is not easy to talk to people that do not understand or might judge you by a question such as this. For the most part, people come here because they are scared. Like I was. Who wouldn't be?? I didn't expect to be ridiculed and basically criticized for asking a question in regards to my health. That's why I turned here for answers. Again, thanks everyone for your feedback. However, keep in mind that people are extremely sensitive about this topic and when they come here for answers, they don't want to hear, "You should know" or "move on". That's not fair.
The answer to your concern has been discussed innumerable times on this forum...if you do a search you can read many in depth discussions that would help put it into perspective.
The MAIN reason you were not at risk by being (maybe) splattered by a drop of blood is b/c HIV cannot be transmitted outside of the body, period. It has to happen INSIDE the body...as in unprotected vaginal or anal sex...or with people sharing needles. Even if you had gotten a drop of infected blood directly onto a cut...you are not going to get HIV. The virus very quickly becomes inactive when it leaves the host (body)...and plus it would take a TON of blood to even be a risk...and you would have to have a HUGE gaping hemorrhaging would that that blood would have to come in contact with!
Bottom line...NO risk. There are tons of similar questions...both here and on the doctor forum. Trust us when we say do not give this a second thought, really. HIV is NOT an easy disease to get, although sadly a lot of people fear it as though it is lurking in every corner in every scenario waiting to infect. Just NOT true.
The MAIN reason you were not at risk by being (maybe) splattered by a drop of blood is b/c HIV cannot be transmitted outside of the body, period. It has to happen INSIDE the body...as in unprotected vaginal or anal sex...or with people sharing needles. Even if you had gotten a drop of infected blood directly onto a cut...you are not going to get HIV. The virus very quickly becomes inactive when it leaves the host (body)...and plus it would take a TON of blood to even be a risk...and you would have to have a HUGE gaping hemorrhaging would that that blood would have to come in contact with!
Bottom line...NO risk. There are tons of similar questions...both here and on the doctor forum. Trust us when we say do not give this a second thought, really. HIV is NOT an easy disease to get, although sadly a lot of people fear it as though it is lurking in every corner in every scenario waiting to infect. Just NOT true.
Because it's 2009 and you should know the answer. You were never at risk PERIOD. Now move on.
This was the answer you gave me the last time, "If your job is so risky that you are always in an anxiety mode then find another job. You did not have a risk of contracting HIV." Is that what you consider a good explanation?
All I am asking is why I am not at risk and that is it. As I've said before, I really don't understand your frustration with me. I am not being rude to you. I am not asking a stupid question. Maybe to you it might be. However, for me , it is not. I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN BLOOD ON MY LIPS AND PROBABLY IN MY MOUTH. WHAT IS STUPID ABOUT THIS QUESTION???
All I am asking is why I am not at risk and that is it. As I've said before, I really don't understand your frustration with me. I am not being rude to you. I am not asking a stupid question. Maybe to you it might be. However, for me , it is not. I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN BLOOD ON MY LIPS AND PROBABLY IN MY MOUTH. WHAT IS STUPID ABOUT THIS QUESTION???
I really do not understand your frustration with me. I am here to get answers. Not to be ridiculed. The reason why I am still here asking the same old question is because I did not get an informative answer the first time. Instead, what I got was an abrupt answer with no explanation. Everyone is not as knowledgeable as you are in this area. Sorry!! If someone feels as if they have been exposed, of course they are going to be very paranoid. Especially if you have no one to talk to. I came here for concrete answers not a shut down. I think that is unfair to the rest of us who are uninformed. That's why this website was created. TO INFORM THE UNINFORMED!! I just want to know the facts. That's all. Please stop being rude to me. Thank you!
Thank u for your quick response. Is it possible that u can be a bit more specific as of why I have no risk. I would like to be more knowledgable in this area.
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