The other night I had dry blood on my shoe and wiped it off with a wet paper towel. Say the blood has HIV, and I might have slightly touched the blood on the wet paper towel. Then proceeded to change my contacts without washing my hands. Would I be at serious risk?
2007-06-11 02:30:48 · 8 answers · asked by Christopher V 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
Hi there,
Absolutely not. There is a very slight theoretical risk assuming that a) the blood was still fresh, b) you had an open cut that the fresh blood made contact with, c) all this happened within one minute of the fresh blood being exposed to air.
HIV is a very fragile virus that dies pretty much upon contact with air. Conservatives estimates give the virus about a minute to live; more liberal estimates give the virus a few seconds.
HIV/AIDS is still going to be around for a long time. You'd be wise to read up on how it is transmitted, the various myths about how it is spread, as well as how to protect yourself if you are not certain. Knowing this information could help to prevent future needless worrying.
Cheers.
2007-06-11 03:04:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's a lot of maybe's. HIV dies quickly in a dry environment. If the blood had dried, then it would likely be inert.
You should in any case always wash your hands before touching your eyes - there are many other highly dangerous pathogens you can transfer to your contacts, including Hepatitis, which is over 5000 times more contagious than HIV.
2007-06-11 03:19:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was dried blood it will not contain the virus of HIV because it dies almost automatically once it gets out of your veins and has contact with air. You may consider getting checked out for conjunctivitis and other misc. tests just to be on the safe side though.
2007-06-11 02:42:49 · answer #3 · answered by ♥ Rachel The Great ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you might be at risk for conjunctivitis, never ever change your contacts without first washing your hands. As for the dried blood, there is no danger of HIV from dried blood, HIV requires a pretty narrow set of conditions to be alive, it dies after about three seconds outside the body.
2007-06-11 02:37:17 · answer #4 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If the blood was dry it means that had been ther more than a minute or more, so you don't have to worry about it because HIV doesn't live outside a host too long. That's why mosquito bites doesn't transmit HIV, so relax.
2007-06-11 02:37:27 · answer #5 · answered by alejandrokiller 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Whoa. Thats a crazy circumstance. If blood was infected and you came into contact with it.I know in my hospital. I would have to be tested. Any contact with blood or fluids for myself would result in me getting checked out.I am saying go freak out.But you should Ask a doctor.
2007-06-11 02:38:56 · answer #6 · answered by FIRE § 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because aids and all other std's die when air hits them so nothing to worry about okay
2007-06-11 05:51:55 · answer #7 · answered by amelia_0405 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as you did not have any open sores,you should have no problems. just as long as you washed your hands thoroughly.
2007-06-11 02:36:03 · answer #8 · answered by lionesspurnell 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋