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Can A Person Contract HIV Or Hepatitis B From A Cactus Pear Prick?

Posted on Fri, 7 Sep 2018

Question: i was pricked by a cactus pear while i was removing the skin i bled any hiv hep b,c risk

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HIV and Hepatitis are spread from the blood of infected person, relax.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Hepatitis B and HIV are both spread by direct contact (mixing of bodily fluids - like blood, semen, vaginal/anal secretions).

A cactus is not human, so there is no chance of you acquiring HIV or Hepatitis B and C through a cactus prick.

You can rest assured that you have not acquired any of these infections.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (40 minutes later)

but what if someone else in a store touched the same cactus pair and cut them self any risk hiv hep b,c

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

These viruses can not survive in the open air for more than a few seconds.So, do not worry.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (2 minutes later)

but according to cdc hep c can survive up to 4 days and hep b up to 8 days?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hepatitis C can survive slightly longer, but not days usually.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Hepatitis B virus does not usually survive for more than a few seconds unless there are some specific conditions (freezing the blood immediately), or the blood drop large enough to sustain the virus for some time.

Hepatitis,however is known to survive in suitable environment for longer duration.

Again, both will die when exposed to open air.

If you did not see any XXXXXXX blood on the cactus, then you have absolutely nothing to worry.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (7 hours later)

i know hiv will die immediately on open air but how lng hep b,c survive on open air.i know hiv will die immediately on open air but how long hep b,c survive on open air
Asked by Me , 0 minutes ago

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Up to 6 weeks for Hepatitis C, and up to 1 week for Hepatitis B.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The hepatitis C virus according to latest research can survive up to 6 weeks in ideal conditions. (At right temperatures and humidity levels).

Hepatitis B has been isolated and found to be infective for up to 1 week in ideal conditions.

This does not mean these viruses will always survive up to the stated times.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (33 hours later)

so why you sain in the beginning hep b,c will die when exposed to open air in seconds

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If exposed to direct air, they will die, can survive in larger blood drops.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Apologies for not clarifying and causing confusion.

If the viruses are exposed to air directly, they will die very fast.

However, if the blood droplet is large enough to shield the virus from being exposed directly to the air, they can survive for periods mentioned above.

I hope this clears your doubts. I would be happy to address any further concern you may have, please do not hesitate in writing back to me.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (44 hours later)

so i am 100% safe from hiv hep b,c?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Unless you have had sexual exposure or direct blood contact, you are safe.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You are absolutely safe, that is, if you had no sexual contact with any person with any of these infections or have not received blood transfusion which had any of these infections or if you are not a IV drug abuser (injecting and sharing needles for drug abuse).

So, if you have had no other way exposure and only had this prick from the cactus, then I can say, absolutely you are safe.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (12 hours later)

i was opening container contains baby romaine salad i just had a suspicion that the container was all ready open since i ate the salad any worry for hiv hep b,c risk

Answered by Dr. Dr. Yogesh D (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HIV and Hepatitis B & C are not transmitted by food.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There are NO reported instances of transmission of HIV & Hepatitis B & C through food.

Do not worry.

Regards,
Dr. Yogesh D,
General & Family Physician

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D