Welcome to the Forum there are a number of variations on this question that have been answered in the past. To summarize, there is no meaningful risk for HIV form sharing devices used to snort drugs. While I suppose it might be theoretically positive if you were sharing straws with someone who was infected and had a (very) bloody nose, and you punctured your own nose. The fact is however that this does not happen.
The HIV virus is quite fragile and survives very poorly outside of the body. even if virus somehow got on a straw, it would have to puncture the mucosal surface of a nose to have any chance of leading to infection.
The person you spoke to was being overly conservative. This is because they will get fewer complaints about being overly conservative than if they were not.
As far as hepatitis C is concerned, it is more infectious than HIV but in the situation you describe, there is still no reason for concern. I would not recommend testing in this situation because the risk is so low. If you chose to get tested, I am confident the results will be negative and that you did not get HIV or hepatitis C form this exposure. Hope this helps. EWH
Thanks so much for the reply doc, I apologize for the repeated question. When you say you would not recommend testing because the risk is so low, did you mean for both hep and hiv?
If I was to get a Hep test, how long should a person wait?
It was all really grouped together in the last paragraph and is most likely my fault as I threw it all together.
Correct. I see no need for testing for either infection.
If you choose to pursue testing, I would suggest you wait until at least 3 months following your exposure of concern. EWH
Thanks you sir, have a great evening and thanks for addressing my concerns.
I also just noted that you can search archives and I have read some of your other replies that I could have read where you also stated no risk.. Sorry about that.
Take care,
One last question that i didn't see, has there ever been a case of anyone getting hiv from sharing bills? Last one and on my way.
Thanks Dr, I just got a little anxiety when you said test at 3 months (thought you usually only said this for higher risj situations. Have a good week.
Okay, i have taken some time to sit back and assess the risk. I will get tested for HCV at 3 months as it is not a bad thing to do anyways, I should go and get it done anyways as it has been a while.
From other comments, you have said that the risk is the same as kissing and drinking from the same glass when using a sniffing device, I used a rolled up bill, does this make a difference?
I am not sure if I will get an HIV test but from you stating there has never been anyone get infected this way, I don't see the medical reason and just have to remove it from my train of thought.
As my posts have probably shown, I have developed a little anxiety over this and It looks like you deal with this everyday from people.
This is the last post as I have taken some time to think about it rather than just shooting off questions.
Last answer--the use of a dollar bill makes no difference. EWH
Thanks you Dr for your help and dealing with the few extra questions. It is appreciated and given me to think a little more rationally about the exposure and the no need to pursue testing. A little bit of situational anxiety was i play and your responses helped to quell this as I didn't want to go through waiting for a test 3 months from now. Take care,
I do have one question unrelated and didn't think it was worth the extra dollars. I chew tobacco and I left the room for a minute and my 19 month old kid took my spit bottle and was holding it (this is gross and made me quit thank god). Not sure if any went in the mouth and if it did I am sure it was spit out immediately. I was reading on the mothers prechewing food and there was a risk to children. The only reason I worried is my kid came down with a runny nose and cough 7 days later. I was feeling fine and not even to go in for testing until this happened. I had no symptoms and currently it is 26 days for me. This may be my anxiety kicking in again which sucks as I felt 100% fine until this and did not feel testing was neccesary.