Blood & HIV?

Question

Hey guys, have a quick question for you. I was at class today and sitting down when a guy walked passed me and brushed the side of his sweatshirt up against the side of my head, touching my hair, on accident. He apoligized, but when I looked at his sweatshirt it looked like there was blood on it, I don't know if it was wet for dry. I am worried now. What should I do? Let's assume the blood was HIV or Hep C positive. Is it possible for the blood to transfer onto my hair, and oak into it, or possibl infect me? Will a simple shower in hot water with shampoo clean out any of the blood, or do I need to use something more drastic? Should I cut off the hair thaat was touched with the blood. Please help, I am freaking out.
Thanks

Answer 1

HIV dies very quickly in the open air. We are talking min. here, not hours. You would need to have him bleed directly into a cut on your head to transfer it like that.
You should have HepA and HepB vaccine per government vaccine protocol.
You should take a shower, do not cut your hair. Calm down.

here is a good link about hepatitis. If the blood was wet, just be sure not touch where he brushed up against you and touch any mucosal area (eye,mouth, etc.) and you should be 100% fine.
http://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/pages/HEPATITIS_A.htm

Answer 2

Do you have any open wounds on your head in the area that may have touched the blood? Do not worry... really. Shower to feel better, but in order to contract either HIV or HCV (Hep. C) you would need to ingest the blood or bodily fluids, or get them into you internally through something like an open wound (or needle-stick, if you were sharing needles). Sure, it is possible for the blood (this would require a LOT of blood) to soak into your hair but even if it did soak your hair, your hair will not act as a conduit to your innards to get the viruses into your system. No worries -- just clean up to feel clean. You will be OK.

Answer 3

Yes, fresh blood or other bodily fluids can carry HIV and heps, and they don't die right off unless you treat the blood or fluid with bleach. If you handled the package, you'd need to sanitize your hands too. May not be necessary to return the package if the package wasn't open and contents handled by the guy when delivered. But if you're really concerned, then wipe the package down with a sanitizer and return it. But don't send a contaminated package out. If it's infected, you'll potentially infect many others.

Answer 4

don't worry about it, unless the blood touched an open wound. Hair is made up of dead cells which cannot transfer blood. Your chance of catching something is the following:

consider 1 out 200 chance the guy has HIV and factor in the chance you have an open wound on your scalp 1 out of 1,000.

Now your odds of getting HIV under the given facts is 1 out of 200,000... does that make you feel better?

Answer 5

Dude, chill, you are way too paranoid, in order to transfer HIV, there must be contact with your blood, did you have an open wound on your head? Same with Hep C. Slow down before you give yourself a stroke.

Answer 6

No, the virus cannot simply soak through the skin, certainly not the hair. You'd have to have an open sore or cut. Those viruses die quickly outside the body.

Answer 7

Please don't overreact!! Don't do anything drastic, like cut your hair. The AIDS virus can live outside the body for only a period of 24hrs and is pretty difficult to catch. Intact skin is a very good barrier to the HIV virus. You can consult your physician for testing if it makes you feel better.

Answer 8

hi, don't worry!! nothing happen , there is 0% probability that you will get HIV, or hepatitis C, B. and this is not important if he has infected blood or not because in this way you cannot get it,( his blood must inter your blood stream to be effected by it ) , don't worry and take care.

Answer 9

No. The virus doesn't live outside of the body and you can't get it from your hair.