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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Use Of Shared Towel?

Posted on Mon, 27 Jul 2015

Question: I visited a massage parlour. After massaging she wiped my penis with a wet towel. Can I get HIV in this way? I am not sure if the towel is washed.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Wiping with wet towel is unlikely to cause HIV infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. It is not possible to get HIV due to wiping your penis with a wet towel. HIV virus is fragile and is easily destroyed on exposure to air within a minute. Therefore HIV infection is unlikely.

2. Rarely such an incident might cause STD infection though it is not commonly seen.

3. Please do not worry about HIV but if you get any burning urination, itching or rashes in the genital region then consult a doctor.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (18 minutes later)

Doctor I forgot to mention that the towel is kept in a bowl of water and the towel might contain semen of other person. She used the same towel to wipe my penis. Is there any chance of having HIV this way. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HIV is destroyed in water after some time

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. If the towel was kept in a bowl of water then also the HIV virus is destroyed quickly. Therefore the possibility of HIV infection is ruled out even considering that semen was there from another man. Please take your own towel or ask for a clean dry towel next time.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (4 hours later)

Thank you for your earlier replies doctor. Could you please tell how long does HIV virus survive in water?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please find details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

Water and soap kills HIV in 15 seconds.

Water that is consumed has enough chlorine to kill HIV in no time.

HIV exposed to air is destroyed in 10 seconds.

Please do not worry about the wet towel causing HIV from semen of another man.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (5 days later)

Hello sir,
I want to know whether getting scratched by finger nail cause HIV. Recently a man accidentally scratched my arm but blood did not come out, only a little redness is seen. Please help.

Also sir once I got scratched by a call girl. Same was the condition. Only redness is seen. No blood involved. I think there might be her body fluid in her nail(not sure). Can I get HIV in this way? Please help.

Sir by body fluid I mean her vaginal fluid. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are safe from HIV infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. Scratching on skin will never transmit HIV and please do not worry.

2. The call girl who might have scratched you did not have live HIV in her nail so this is not possible.

3. The HIV is weak and does not stay alive after exposure to atmosphere. The scratch cannot transmit HIV even if live virus is there.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (8 minutes later)

Sir if the call girl had vaginal fluid in her nail and then scratched me can I get HIV in this way? Please help

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Impossible to get HIV due to vaginal fluid in nail following a scratch

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. It is impossible to get HIV if the call girl had vaginal fluid in her nail and scratched you with it.

2. HIV should be deposited in to the bleeding area and not simply over a scratch.

3. Please do not worry about the incident.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (7 minutes later)

Sir
Thanking you for replying. But I have noticed that at one point of the scratch my skin is broken though no blood came out. Do I need to worry?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please find details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. Since there was no blood therefore there is no need to worry.

2. However you might like to send picture of the skin where there was broken skin at the end of scratch or write in detail about the wound with exact location.

3. I reassure you that there is no concern.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Sir,
I have uploaded an image of my scratched hand. As you can a red spot at the topmost point at the starting of the scratch which I think is a broken skin. I wanted to know whether I am likely to catch HIV in this manner considering that her nail had her vaginal fluids in it.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chances of HIV infection is almost nil

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. The scratch is slightly deep but since there has been no bleeding from the wound therefore the chance of HIV from her vaginal fluid in the nail is almost nil.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (2 minutes later)

Sir,
Do I need to get a HIV test done?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HIV testing is not required compulsorily

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. A HIV test is not required compulsorily from the sequence of events mentioned above. Scratches are not a cause of concern and please do not worry.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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