2 Small Questions Regarding Transmission - HIV Prevention Message Board

vadiv_mt · 06-28-2005, 09:09 AM

1) Can HIV be transmitted through blood contact on intact skin or through blood contact on acne ?

2) Can HIV be transmitted through sharing poppers ?(ignoring the fact that poppers impair your judgement and make you engage your self in risky sexual behaviour)

Thanks

last1 · 06-28-2005, 10:53 AM

I'll try to answer your questions:
1) No, HIV cannot be transmitted by blood if the skin is intact. However, what we don't seem to have data on is whether the virus can be transmitted if the skin has microscopic abrasions or openings. But, generally, the answer to you question is, "NO."
Whether HIV can be transmitted through acne I would have to suggest that the answer is problematic. If the acne sores are open, then the infection rate would increase proportionally.

2) No, HIV cannot be transmitted by sharing poppers. (And I appreciate, very much, your disclaimer that poppers tend to impair our judgement...)

panaSONIQUE · 06-28-2005, 02:47 PM

You've posted before about cuts, huh? Are you obbsessing over transmission of HIV? Are you worried you have it??
-S-

vadiv_mt · 06-28-2005, 09:52 PM

Ive tried a lot not to obsess about it, and I partially managed but I've got a long way to go.

Before I met this board I used to think of hundreds of ways how HIV could be transmitted by casual contact, but thanks to your information this fear has gone away.

I still fear however when I see someone elses blood, kind of what would happen if he touches me with his blood? I really think that you need a fresh cut for transmission to occur and still there the odds are low I guess. I just read that the probability of contracting HIV through a syringe is about 3 in 1000, so this event(touching someone elses blood with no "open" cuts) would be unrealistic I guess.

Sorry if I am causing any trouble, its just how my mind happens to be, always needing a kind of reassurance to my thought whenever it comes to health. I hope genetic engineering will figure out a way of fighting the virus efficiently and I think we're not so far.

panaSONIQUE · 06-29-2005, 08:15 AM

Well, your fear is yours and you shouldn't apologize for it. Perhaps you should seek a counselor. We can tell you that you're fine, but you won't truly believe it until you figure out the root of your fear and concern. Unless you have unprotected sex or share needles...(these are the most conventional routes of transmission), then you need not worry. Everything else (besides breast feeding, birth and sometimes oral sex) is a needle in a haystack as far as transmission occurs. And im talking a HUGE haystack and a TINY needle.
-S-