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Can HIV Be Contracted After Touching Trash With A Wounded Thumb?

Posted on Tue, 21 Jun 2016

Question: listen I was throwing trash down the chute of my condominium and as I was throwing something away something got me I know it was from thee chute apparently not bleeding but its plain sore should i go for an hiv test??

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your thumb

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I looked at the pictures you posted. Your thumb does look sore, and so I suggest you soak it in very warm/hot water a few times a day which will decrease the risk of a skin infection and make it feel better.

What do you think hit you - something from your garbage?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (14 minutes later)

no like I think a prick you see the photos i posted the chute area you se?

i mean doenst look like bleeding right but i feel its sore

overtime I get in contact something dd I take photos around my condominium now Can I really get kicked out I do own the Condo what do you think any body know the Law?? I'm from XXXXXXX beach

listen i was walking and i did not realize I was carrying cash but it was in my fist it was three dollars now the gentlemen try yo grab it and i think he was giggling as he never got to it and i pulled away as he was giggling I don't recall but I was suppressed now should i got for any hiv testing??? now I'm paranoid please

I feel he knows me but I cant say for sure now what should I REALLY DO hiv test or what or am i freaking out

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how can you figure regarding my thumb is sore look at the chutee area any hazards items i did the best i could you saw it as no blood on thumb for a bit as I kept walking back i should of turned around if he was coming back but never looked back now the walking encounter wgwhat should i do I hate to say it its my fault but I really did not know i had it on my fist should I really take action regarding this person while i was walking

the person I never looked back to make certain if he had nothing dangerous boy I'm too strip I cant believe this I don't think anything happen i dontrecall this person encounter is this totally my fault

the thing is with this person I don't now if he did anything to me as I was walking home I really don't remember this what would you do hiv test or no???? please ask other docs

question it has to bleed right in order to get this lethal disease

the thing is he tried to get it but i pulled away from him and as soon as i did it he giggled now does tell me he knows me. I work for a hotel should I really try to think hard on this encounter or let it go

I don't think he did anything to me as for doctors I try not to go there as I know deeply in my heart nothing occurred but I don't know that for certain take testing???

but if anything would've he stopped mr if he was some bad dude apparently i pulled away and he was giggling as i was doing it and walking away

i kept walking and he did not follow i kept walking and that was it i never thought about it regarding this till now should i tell my folks what they say about this

Please let me know trying to forget should Ii???

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
About HIV test

Detailed Answer:
You only need an HIV test if you have intimate sexual relations where you have exchange of blood or body fluids. Or are stabbed with a needle that has been used by someone with a high HIV titer. So no, you don't need an HIV test. There is no likelihood of transmission from casual contact like you described.

Your thumb looks a bit sore, but this does not mean that you punctured it with a needle that was freshly used by someone with AIDs. I don't think that is a possibility. Soak it today and tomorrow and it should be better soon.

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Brief Answer:
Some answers.

Detailed Answer:
A few things:

1. No - you don't have to bleed to get HIV. Getting HIV does not require you to bleed.

2. Nowadays with medication, HIV is not the lethal disease it used to be. People live good lives now even with HIV.

3. You have absolutely NO RISK if you didn't have sexual contact, or have the other person's fresh blood on an open wound or abrasion, or receive a needle stick from a needle that has blood from a person with HIV. There is NO RISK from casual contact. HIV does not live on surfaces or hands.

4. Yes, you should forget about it.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)

The whole thing is I don't know if he did not do anything to me ??? Or not

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (0 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Question

Detailed Answer:
I'm not sure I understand. What harm do you think he did specifically?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (12 minutes later)

That's the thing I don't recall mamm all I know he tried to grab the cash which was three dollars but I pulled away than kept on walking away

What do u say ???

I facebooked my boss regarding who's closeing tomorrow but I made a mistake can I get fired ???

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No risk

Detailed Answer:
If you pulled away from the man who tried to grab your cash, I don't think there is any risk to you at all. And even if he made contact with your hand with his, this still wouldn't pose a risk of HIV.

I am not sure whether you can get fired. This isn't a medical question per se, and I am not sure what employee policy rule you broke that would lead to you getting fired.

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Brief Answer:
Try to resolve the situation before tomorrow

Detailed Answer:
If it was a simple mistake, try to contact your boss and resolve the situation before tomorrow. I can see that you are very anxious about this and taking action to resolve this quickly will help your worries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 minutes later)

Do u thibk I can get fired??? Looked at it again and I looked at the wrong line should j be worried tomorrow

Thanks but I was thinking that leave it alone and let him say something first I would just say I thought XXXXXXX works today what do u say

I worry way too much

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
My opinion

Detailed Answer:
If it is something minor, then I would leave it be. But if it is a significant issue, such as if no employee is now scheduled to work, then I would address it quickly before it becomes a big problem. In my experience, addressing things early is usually the best policy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 minute later)

I facebooked him a few times regArdibg work

I hit the right person I said the persons name and I said typo am I safe from hot water

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
About your communication

Detailed Answer:
If Facebook is the only means you have of contacting him and correcting this, and if you think he regularly checks his Facebook messages, then yes, it should take care of the problem. If he doesn't check FB and you don't have any other contact information for him, it doesn't seem like there is anything further you can do.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 minutes later)

He does check it often should I worry tomorrow no fired???

Am in a big situation here though I fixed the problem I told the right person but what do u say

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Good that you took constructive action

Detailed Answer:
I'd say you've done all you can and that unless your boss is quite unreasonable, you don't have to worry. I'd suggest trying to put it out of your mind if you can.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (14 minutes later)

But u thibk I can get terminated??? Fir this he's reasonable I say so

Please tell me revised the schedule ???

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this:

Detailed Answer:
I wouldn't know if you could get terminated. I would think that would happen only if you broke a rule in the policies that spell out grounds for termination.

If you find that you are always uncomfortably anxious, you may want to talk with a doctor about a medication that can help, such as an SSRI, and talk therapy can help too. I realize in this situation you have reason to be anxious, but I am thinking about in general, treatment might make you feel better.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 minutes later)

U think I broke any policies or rules

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I don't know.

Detailed Answer:
No, I wouldn't know. You would be able to know that but I don't know the details of the policies for termination of your job.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (10 hours later)

if nothing was said today that means I'm safe

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
That's good news!

Detailed Answer:
Yes, that sounds like you are ok.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar