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What Are The Chances Of Communicable Diseases Through The Touch Of Blood?
Hi there,
I have an urgent question. I was once visiting my neighbour and the cat she used to have scratshed her hand on the back side of her palm. The hand was bleeding heavily. She washed her hand, used a disinfectent, but her hand was still bleeding. She was pressuring the wound with a tissue & I saw blood in that tissue. As she was doing this, she gave me her business card to send her one of my friends' CV. I was shy not to take the card from her, so I took it. Then I put the business card aside in her bathroom on the sink counter, washed my hands while giving sometime for any blood to dry on the business card, took the card again and went home immediately. At my home, I washed my hands again. Now I didnt see any apparent drops of blood on that card but I am afraid the card had any streaks of blood on it when she handed it to me. It looked a bit reddish to me but m it' only in my imagination. I am afraid I might have caught any of the communicable diseases as Hepatitis or HIV. Back then, I also had a cut on my index finger but it was recently healed as far as I remember. I am also afraid that I might have accidentally touched my mouth or nose after taking the business card. Could you please let me know my chances of getting infected by any of the communicable diseases in this case, especially HIV? Appreciate your prompt response
I have an urgent question. I was once visiting my neighbour and the cat she used to have scratshed her hand on the back side of her palm. The hand was bleeding heavily. She washed her hand, used a disinfectent, but her hand was still bleeding. She was pressuring the wound with a tissue & I saw blood in that tissue. As she was doing this, she gave me her business card to send her one of my friends' CV. I was shy not to take the card from her, so I took it. Then I put the business card aside in her bathroom on the sink counter, washed my hands while giving sometime for any blood to dry on the business card, took the card again and went home immediately. At my home, I washed my hands again. Now I didnt see any apparent drops of blood on that card but I am afraid the card had any streaks of blood on it when she handed it to me. It looked a bit reddish to me but m it' only in my imagination. I am afraid I might have caught any of the communicable diseases as Hepatitis or HIV. Back then, I also had a cut on my index finger but it was recently healed as far as I remember. I am also afraid that I might have accidentally touched my mouth or nose after taking the business card. Could you please let me know my chances of getting infected by any of the communicable diseases in this case, especially HIV? Appreciate your prompt response
Mon, 9 Nov 2015
Although it is true that HIV can spread through infected blood, you have to understand that it can happen only when the blood comes into contact with your mucosa – in other words, the blood should have penetrated your skin. This happens in needle stick injuries, or by sharing needles. In your case, I do not think you have any chance of acquiring any communicable disease, especially HIV, because:
1. You did not come into direct contact with the blood.
2. Whatever traces of blood that may have bene on the card did not penetrate your skin
3. You have not mentioned if this person who gave the card to you is positive for HIV. Even if she was positive, you still would not acquire HIV as no blood has gained penetration into your body through any open wound or cut on your skin.
Please calm down and carry on. You have no reason to worry.
1. You did not come into direct contact with the blood.
2. Whatever traces of blood that may have bene on the card did not penetrate your skin
3. You have not mentioned if this person who gave the card to you is positive for HIV. Even if she was positive, you still would not acquire HIV as no blood has gained penetration into your body through any open wound or cut on your skin.
Please calm down and carry on. You have no reason to worry.
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