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Should I Be Tested For Hepatitis C Or Hepatitis B Or Even HIV And Go See My Doctor?

Posted on Thu, 13 Jun 2024

Question: I accidentally poked myself with my cats insulin needle before I gave him the insulin and there was a red dot now there’s a small rash should I be worried?

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (5 minutes later)

Should I be tested for hepatitis C or hepatitis B or even HIV and go see my doctor?

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Was it a used needle?

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome here,

Was it a used needle?
Cats may have hepatitis virus but they don't carry HIV.
It could just be an allergic reaction to the needle contents.
You may wash the area with soap and water and apply some antiseptic cream
Take a tablet of cetirizine or another anti-histaminic.
You may get tested for HCV or HBV in case of used needle. However insulin is given subcutaneously so the likelihood for transmission of virus is low. Both HBV and HCV transmit through blood.

Regards,
Dr Vaishalee

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