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If You Put A Contaminated Object (thermometer That Was Used
Question: If you put a contaminated object (thermometer that was used on other people and not disinfected) in your mouth, as long as there are no ulcers/sores in the mouth viruses such as Hep. A, B, C or HIV can not enter the blood and thus there would not be an infection (please correct me if I am wrong).. I am curious as to exactly what happen to these viruses once they are in the mouth in such a case.. Do they viruses live in the mouth? If yes, for how long? Do they go down to the stomach and killed? Do they some chances to infect while going down to the stomach or somehow pass through the stomach and have the chance to infect?
Also, if spit out your saliva as much as possible immediately (before swallowing any saliva) after having a contaminated oral thermometer (used by many people and may contain Hep. A,B, C, or HIV or others) for about 10 seconds in your mouth, would this decrease the chance of infection? what are the chances of infection as such a case?
Also, if spit out your saliva as much as possible immediately (before swallowing any saliva) after having a contaminated oral thermometer (used by many people and may contain Hep. A,B, C, or HIV or others) for about 10 seconds in your mouth, would this decrease the chance of infection? what are the chances of infection as such a case?
Brief Answer:
Hepatitis A and E can enter through GI tract...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Amongst the list of virus mentioned Hepatitis A once in the stomach can enter systemic circulation through the gut and cause infection. Hepatitis B, C and HIV don't posses such characteristic. They need open and blood stained wounds to infect. Another Hepatitis virus (Hep E) also posses this characteristic.
But none of these virus stay forever in the mouth. Salivary secretions contain immunological and inhibitory properties to reduce and nullify infective organisms. And yes spitting out saliva immediately will also remove any such viruses from the mouth and reduce chances of infection.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if you need any other information.
Regards
Hepatitis A and E can enter through GI tract...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Amongst the list of virus mentioned Hepatitis A once in the stomach can enter systemic circulation through the gut and cause infection. Hepatitis B, C and HIV don't posses such characteristic. They need open and blood stained wounds to infect. Another Hepatitis virus (Hep E) also posses this characteristic.
But none of these virus stay forever in the mouth. Salivary secretions contain immunological and inhibitory properties to reduce and nullify infective organisms. And yes spitting out saliva immediately will also remove any such viruses from the mouth and reduce chances of infection.
Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if you need any other information.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Doctor XXXXXXX thanks for your answer.
If you had received a successful Hepatitis B vaccine (post vaccination antibody response level of about 70 IU/L was measured slightly less than 20 years ago), are you fully protected from Hep. B exposure 20 years later? Would protective antibody level go down over the years and give less or no protection today? Does this person (no sores in the mouth, healthy and not immuno-compromised) need a booster vaccine shot or post exposure treatment if exposed to Hep B (such as putting into his mouth a contaminated thermometer that might be tainted with Hep. B saliva or with a trace of blood)?
If you had received a successful Hepatitis B vaccine (post vaccination antibody response level of about 70 IU/L was measured slightly less than 20 years ago), are you fully protected from Hep. B exposure 20 years later? Would protective antibody level go down over the years and give less or no protection today? Does this person (no sores in the mouth, healthy and not immuno-compromised) need a booster vaccine shot or post exposure treatment if exposed to Hep B (such as putting into his mouth a contaminated thermometer that might be tainted with Hep. B saliva or with a trace of blood)?
Brief Answer:
Yes, protection level reduces...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If you had received a complete set of Hepatitis B vaccines, immunity should last for 20 - 30 years. However, the protection level gradually declines after 20 years. If you have antibody levels at 70 IU/l, then you are still protected and immunized against Hepatitis B. And there is no real need to have boosters yet, not until the level reach close to or below 10 IU/L.
Hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.
Regards
Yes, protection level reduces...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If you had received a complete set of Hepatitis B vaccines, immunity should last for 20 - 30 years. However, the protection level gradually declines after 20 years. If you have antibody levels at 70 IU/l, then you are still protected and immunized against Hepatitis B. And there is no real need to have boosters yet, not until the level reach close to or below 10 IU/L.
Hope this answers your question. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Recheck antibody titer....
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As I mentioned earlier, immunity lasts for more than 20 years after complete Hep B vaccination. You may recheck the antibody titre to confirm presence of immune response. A level of more than 10 IU will keep you protected.
A value less than 10 doesn't mean you are not protected; but the level of protection isn't complete and you need to have booster shots.
Hope it helped.
Regards
Recheck antibody titer....
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
As I mentioned earlier, immunity lasts for more than 20 years after complete Hep B vaccination. You may recheck the antibody titre to confirm presence of immune response. A level of more than 10 IU will keep you protected.
A value less than 10 doesn't mean you are not protected; but the level of protection isn't complete and you need to have booster shots.
Hope it helped.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Antibody response of 70 IU/L was meassued 20 years ago soon after the vaccination. Don't know what the level is now. What needs to be done in this case?
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