non sexual exposure

[worried201]

hi doctor

i am confused about what precaution i should in daily life with regards to non sexual exposed..as many people have different opinon about how long hiv can survive outside the host.
some person say 2sec some say 30mins

if it is 30 mins would not it be risky to touch blood and then your eyes or mouth with some open wound

teak also say hiv cannot survive outside its host? please enlighten me if it can surive 30mins why not survive outside host?

so can i conclude its safe to touch any object and then my hands to my eyes/penis or my mouth with bleeding gums or cuts without any checking my hands for any blood/semen as i have been washing my hand excessively and worrying

thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are asking the wrong question.  It doesn't matter how long HIV can survive outside the body.  For what it's worth, the time is highly variable, from a few seconds to several days, depending on temperature, humidity, the nature of the secretions, the surface they are on, etc.  But it doesn't matter, because nobody ever gets HIV by contacting the virus in the environment.  Even among people who live in the same household as someone with HIV for 5, 10, or 20 years, none of them ever catch HIV.

To answer the opening question, there are no precautions you need to take "in daily life" to avoid HIV from the environment.  Common sense hygiene protects against common colds and certain other infections, but has no bearing on HIV risk.

If you cannot shake your unwarranted fears of contamination by such mechanisms, you might need to seek professional mental health attention.  Such fears are not normal and sometimes are the sign of important health problems.  I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.

There is no point in ongoing discussion.  Best wishes-- HHH, MD

[worried201]

hi Mr hunter,

thanks for your valuble oponion and advise

my fear of hiv started when i got a handjob from a massage palour and i got a small cut no bleeding and some all doctor told me low risk and  should be tested which i found out later is no risk..as a result i read alot and you know website has many different oponion about hiv transmission and some fearful info

this got worse as i work in the construction industry with many foreign labours and they get cut often and recently i got my wisdom tooth removed which made my working/daily life more fearful as i have wound in my mouth..this resulted me in doing funny thing which i think could even increase my risk as it may not be what a normal person will do like wiping excessively

so i decided to end this by asking what precaution i should take as i am petty confused with many opinions that why i posted

Mr hunter

how about if person touch me accidently on my lip or person brush me
accidently in crowded places like trains/streets and contact eyes or my lips with cut or blood and got in my mouth via tongue or drinking water through my recent wisdom tooth wound [about 2 weeks]/ulcer. is this more direct like wound to wound contact?

also i understand i should take precaution if lots of blood is present right which i will definately will noticed right?

[LIZZIE LOU]

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/show/77?camp=msc

you might want to give this forum a shot...as you are consumed with irrational, unwarranted fears and thoughts.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

What Lizzie Lou said.  I have nobfurther comments or advice.  This thread is over.

[worried201]

hi mr hunte

u mind answer my last question?

today my collegue pass me a letter with stapler and i got poked by the stapler as one end is protuding out and little blood came out..i am scared if my collegue got poked by the same thing about 2 to 5 sec he pass to me..any risk?

thanks

[nursegirl6572]

You are not comprehending the answers given to you.  You CANNOT get HIV from environmental surfaces...from a staple, from doorknobs, toilets, handshakes, hugs, etc etc etc.

Your HIV phobia really should be addressed with a mental health professional as Dr. Hunter advised.  You do NOT get HIV from daily life situations...hence why HIV is classified as a "sexually transmitted disease".

[alienshadow]

I believe Dr. Handsfield said this thread was over.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

If you post anything else, the entire thread will be deleted.  Your behavior is abuse of the forum and you will soon receive a formal warning about it from MedHelp administration. If you continue after that, you will be banned from any future participation in any MedHelp forum.