Hey guys, have a quick question. I was walking the other day and I stepped on a bloddy piece of floss on the ground. It touched my shoe and my pant leg. A short time later, about one hour or so, I was bending down and the side of my head and hair touched the pant leg that touched the bloody piece of floss. Now I feel like I have blood in my hair, and am worried about getting HIV and Hep C. Is there any real risk? If I simply wash my hair, will the blood wash out? Is it true that blood can soak into your hair? Am I at risk of this happening?
Thanks
2007-01-11 11:32:58 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
My question is, what were you doing that you had to put your leg up over your head??
Anyway. Hypothetically speaking, it's technically possible for pathogenic material to be passed on in this way, but it's SOOO remote that the risk is nonexistant. There's your short answer.
Long answer...
Lots of factors to consider. How long had the piece of floss been laying there exposed to the air, drying? Did it barely touch your pantleg, or did you pick up the floss and really grind it into the fabric? Did your hair only slightly brush against your pantleg, or did you scrub the bloody spot against your hair??
Each of these things can take away from the risk of spreading blood borne pathogens. Even if you did all of these things, picking up a soaking wet piece of floss that someone dropped less than 60 seconds ago, scrubbing your pantleg with it, and then scrubbing your hair with your pantleg, the amount of material you've contaminated yourself with is minimal. Hair that is in poor condition is porous, but I seriously doubt that that miniscule amount is going to be absorbed by it. And so what if it was? You can't absorb anything into your body through shafts of hair.
Now if you were dumb enough to pick up the bloodied floss and floss your OWN teeth with it, I'd say it was time to worry. But even then, the person who dropped the floss would have to be infected with something pathogenic. I'm guessing at worst, the floss-dropper was or wasn't infected with something, so your odds are dropped to 50/50 right there.
If you're really worried, change your pants, and wash your hair and hands. You're in the clear.
2007-01-11 11:54:14 · answer #1 · answered by intuition897 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there probably wasn't even enough blood on the floss to get onto your shoe or pant leg. And it was probably dry anyway, so it wouldn't have transferred onto you. And even though your hair might have touched that pant leg I SERIOUSLY doubt anything got in it. You have to have some type of open wound for HIV of Hep C to get into, and that's only when the wound is contacted with blood (not dried), semen, saliva, or vaginal secretions. Stuff like that. So, my bet is you're A OK.
2007-01-11 11:43:15 · answer #2 · answered by lucy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, there is no way that HIV blood, or any kind of blood can be soaked up by your hair... it's kinda not alive in that sense! It's like your nails that way... it grows, but it ain't "alive." Secondly, just wash your hair and you'll feel better. As far as Hepatitis goes, as long as the blood stayed away from any of your mucus membranes you should be safe. I know there are certain strands of Hepatitis that can live outside the body for a few days, but as long as you didn't ingest it you should be fine. And, also, HIV can ONLY be transmitted through blood and BLOOD contact (bad blood transfusions/you have a cut and they have a cut and they touch), unprotected sex, bodily secretions (minus saliva), and sharing drug needles; all with someone who is infected with HIV/AIDs.
2007-01-11 11:42:42 · answer #3 · answered by madjennyvane 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
personally I really don't think there's anything to worry about...I have NEVER heard of ANYONE getting HIV or Hep C this way (and I used to be an AIDS volunteer)
But for your own peace of mind if it's really bothering you, wash your hair with antibacterial dish soap, followed by your own shampoo, followed by an awesome conditioner. If you still feel un easy blow your hair dry (the heat from your hair dryer will kill most things anyway)
2007-01-11 11:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by gords_babygirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless the blood came in contact with an open wound you probably have nothing to worry about. Just wash your hair.
2007-01-11 11:38:39 · answer #5 · answered by CAITLIN 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No you are not at risk, those types of things are transmitted from things like needle sticks or if some that tested postive spit in your eye you might want to be concerned, but it definatly cannot be transmitted from your incident.
2007-01-11 11:44:07 · answer #6 · answered by Tiffany V 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are at absolutely ZERO risk. You'll be fine.
2007-01-11 11:38:06 · answer #7 · answered by Ceajae 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See your doctor
2007-01-11 11:38:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋