The likelihood of HIV infection from an untreated object through a scratch. Consultation, trust mail

Can you get infected with HIV through a scratch? This question interests many. According to statistics, every year the number of people suffering from immunodeficiency increases, and the number of those who have recovered is zero, because a cure has not yet been found. Therefore, people increasingly have questions about ways of contracting HIV in everyday situations.

The immunodeficiency virus is an incurable infection transmitted through blood, sexual contact, and breast milk. This virus is not transmitted through normal communication or touching, since the pathogen is not able to survive outside the human body.

But is it possible to become infected with HIV through a simple scratch on the skin? This question is very relevant these days, but it is impossible to give a definite answer, since the outcome of such an event cannot be predicted. Of course, if a certain amount of infected biological fluid enters the blood of a healthy person, then the chance of transmitting AIDS through a scratch is approximately 80%. However, such an outcome requires a fairly large amount of blood, and if you simply treat the wound of a person with HIV or scratch him, then the probability is almost zero.

Also, if the place where the scratches have healed and there is no blood on them is touched by a bleeding wound of a healthy person, then the likelihood of transmitting immunodeficiency is negligible. The possibility of infection arises if you cut yourself with an object that contains the blood of an HIV-positive person, but this also has its own aspects: in order to become infected in this way, the time the biological fluid is on the object should not exceed 5 minutes. After this period, the virus dies in the open air, and therefore it becomes impossible to introduce the retrovirus into a healthy body.

Another possibility of infection arises when kissing a patient who has bleeding wounds on the lips or in the mouth. If such scratches are small or do not bleed, then the likelihood of HIV transmission through such an abrasion is extremely low.

From the above, we can conclude that the chance of contracting HIV through a scratch is 1/1000. Favorable conditions must remain for the retrovirus to survive and be capable of infection, and such cases are approximately 1 in 1000. To confirm this fact, you can take as an example a regular trip to the dentist. Is a certificate stating that the person is HIV negative required before each appointment? No. And wounds are inevitable during dental treatment. However, you should not rely on statistics and listen to statements that in practice there is not a single case of HIV infection through scratches.

There is always a chance of becoming infected, no one is immune from this, so you should not neglect the advice and instructions of doctors on preventing the disease. It is not for nothing that foreigners are so worried if they receive, as it seems to the citizens of our country, a small abrasion or scratch and immediately run to treat it or go to a medical institution. This “excessive” concern is completely justified and correct. If there is bleeding, even after a slight prick on something, you should apply a little pressure to the affected area so that the dirt that has accumulated in a matter of seconds comes out and quickly treat everything. This is the only way to protect yourself and your loved ones from such a dangerous and, most importantly, incurable disease.

Society's misconceptions about HIV make life miserable for infected people. Find out the most common myths about HIV that it’s time to get rid of.

Since the very first diagnosis of HIV, doctors and scientists have made enormous strides in identifying and treating the disease. Modern society knows much more about HIV, but misconceptions about the virus have not completely disappeared and continue to cause fear and panic, for example, the myth that you can become infected through an open wound. Find out the truth about 14 myths about HIV.

The virus is transmitted only through sexual contact and blood transfusion.

Myth 1: HIV means the same as AIDS

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and destroys CD4 antigen markers of helper T cells - cells that fight infection and disease. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a late stage of the development of HIV infection, in which the human immune system is significantly weakened. Without proper treatment, most HIV cases progress to AIDS within a few years. In fact, many experts use the word “HIV” and the word “AIDS” because they are stages of the same disease, but with the availability of modern HIV treatments, it is often possible to prevent the development of AIDS.

Myth 2: HIV can be cured today

HIV is an incurable disease. There is currently no vaccine for HIV, but research in this area continues. Scientists have been able to create drugs that help control the virus, so its spread can be significantly slowed down. If you take your treatment seriously and follow all your doctor's instructions, you can live a long life with HIV. In countries where medicine is developed, HIV-infected people can live as long as healthy people.

Myth 3: HIV can be transmitted through any contact.

The human immunodeficiency virus dies very quickly outside the body. In addition, it is not found in all body fluids; for example, it is not found in tears, sweat and saliva. Thus, the virus is not transmitted through touching, hugging, kissing, shaking hands and other daily contacts. The virus is not transmitted through household contact, even if you share the same toilet, shower, or kitchen utensils.

Myth 4: Blood transfusion is the most common way to become infected with HIV

Years ago, before modern blood tests were available, HIV was sometimes transmitted through blood transfusions or organ transplants from HIV-infected people. However, thanks to accurate blood tests, cases of HIV infection in this way have not been recorded in developed countries for 20 years.

Myth 5: You can get HIV through oral sex

Almost all cases of sexually transmitted HIV infection occur through unprotected vaginal or anal sex; infection through oral sex is extremely rare, since the virus is not transmitted through saliva. A condom provides maximum protection against infection.

Myth 6: You can get HIV from sitting on the toilet

Sharing the same toilet with an HIV-infected person does not pose any threat, since the virus is not transmitted through household contact. HIV is a very fragile virus; it dies quickly and cannot reproduce outside the host’s body. Thus, using a shared toilet is not dangerous for a healthy person.

Myth 7: Open wounds or contact with blood can cause HIV infection.

This myth is part of a theory about HIV transmission that has no real-world evidence. There have been no documented cases of HIV transmission through an open wound (except when the wound is caused by the infected person himself, for example through a contaminated syringe). Infection is only possible if an uninfected person has come into contact with a large, fresh, bleeding wound (minor cuts and scratches usually begin to heal within an hour after the injury). Exposure to large amounts of contaminated blood (as occurs, for example, among emergency medical personnel) can be risky without proper protection, such as disposable gloves. However, there have been no reported cases of transmission of the virus through contact with blood in the home, in a restaurant or through social contact.

Myth 8: HIV is transmitted through joint masturbation

Hand contact with the genitals, even if there is discharge, and if saliva is used as a lubricant, HIV will not be transmitted. The same applies to hand contact with the vagina or anus, even if there are scratches or cuts on the hands. There are no cases of HIV infection in this way.

Myth 9: Mosquitoes carry HIV

You cannot become infected with HIV through the bite of a mosquito or other blood-sucking insect. When an insect bites, it does not inject you with the blood of the person it previously bit.

Myth 10: HIV can be identified by symptoms

HIV does not always cause symptoms. Sometimes those infected develop flu-like symptoms several weeks after infection. However, most often it takes about 10 years for symptoms to appear, a time called the latent period. Due to the fact that the symptoms of HIV are hidden and coincide with the symptoms of other diseases, the only way to test yourself is to get tested.

Myth 11: Drug therapy is not necessary at the onset of the disease

HIV can significantly weaken the immune system. HIV is a serious disease that can be life-threatening, so those infected should seek medical help as soon as possible. Early treatment will help limit or slow down the destruction of the immune system and delay the progression of HIV to AIDS.

Myth 12: Sex between people living with HIV is safe

Choosing an HIV-infected partner for sex is not necessarily safe for the person carrying the virus. There are many strains of HIV, which increases the risk of contracting another type of virus that will not respond to treatment. In addition, unprotected sexual contact can cause infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and genital herpes.

Myth 13: A child born to an HIV-positive mother will also be HIV-positive.

HIV-infected mothers can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. However, pregnant HIV-positive women usually do everything to reduce the risk of infection of the fetus: they begin treatment early in pregnancy and avoid breastfeeding, which minimizes the risk of infection.

Myth 14: HIV and AIDS are not deadly diseases

HIV and AIDS are a global problem. More than 34 million people in the world are infected with HIV. More than 2.7 million people became infected in 2010, and in Russia in 2011 - 62,000 people. HIV research is one of the priorities in world medicine, as it aims to stop the spread of HIV, find new treatments and, possibly, create a vaccine against this disease.

Recent studies have shown that early treatment
HIV reduces the risk of infecting a sexual partner by 95%.

Expert: Galina Filippova, general practitioner, candidate of medical sciences
Olga Gorodetskaya

Photos used in this material belong to shutterstock.com

There are many myths surrounding HIV in society and on the Internet. No other disease can compare with HIV infection in the number of fictions and absurdities told about it. There are especially many fantasies about HIV infection. Here are HIV terrorists with syringes at the ready in public transport, and a boy who became infected by eating a blood-stained banana, and crowds of HIV-infected people who received HIV through a blood transfusion... Let's finally figure out what is true in these stories and what is fiction .

Myth: HIV is highly contagious

Reality: The risk of HIV infection is low. HIV infection is 100 times less contagious than hepatitis B and 3000 times less contagious than the flu. HIV is a very unstable virus; it can only exist in a liquid medium and when it dries out it dies almost instantly. In addition, for infection, this virus must enter the bloodstream, and in large quantities. As for infection through heterosexual sex, the average probability of becoming infected with HIV is 1:200 sexual acts. Some couples live together for years without protection and do not become infected (although we do not advise you to repeat this experience!).

Myth: HIV infection can be contracted through everyday contact.

Reality: HIV is not transmitted in everyday life. It is NOT transmitted through towels, clothing, bed linen, dishes, when sharing food, through the toilet seat and bathtub, in the pool or in the sauna. It is not transmitted through skin-to-skin contact - through handshakes, hugs, touching, or through coughing and sneezing. In ordinary life, HIV-positive people are absolutely safe.

Myth: You can get HIV from kissing, especially if there are abrasions or scratches in the mouth.

Reality: When kissing, there is no risk of infection, regardless of the presence of damage to the mucous membrane of the tongue and oral cavity, as well as erupting wisdom teeth, stomatitis, periodontal disease and other misfortunes. The amount of HIV in saliva is very small. For the dose of virus in saliva to become sufficient for infection, three liters of saliva are needed - we have never heard of such records of salivation during a kiss!

Myth: HIV is transmitted through joint masturbation

Reality: Hand contact with the genitals, even in the presence of secretions, does not transmit HIV. Yes, yes, it is not transmitted, even if there are scratches and cuts on the hands!

Myth: HIV is transmitted through saliva, sweat or tears.

Reality: Saliva, sweat and tears are not dangerous in terms of HIV infection. The concentration of virus in these fluids is too low for infection to occur. Wounds and scratches do not matter.

Myth: Mosquitoes transmit HIV through bites.

Reality: It is impossible to become infected with HIV through the bite of a mosquito or other blood-sucking insect. HIV does not live in the mosquito's body, and mosquitoes do not inject the blood they have sucked in when they bite again.

Myth: HIV-positive children can transmit the virus through bites or active play through abrasions and scratches.

Reality: When healthy and HIV-infected children stay together, there is no risk of infection. There is too little virus in saliva to be transmitted through a bite. HIV is also not transmitted through abrasions or scratches, since for infection large quantities of its particles must enter the bloodstream, which does not occur through superficial damage to the skin. In the entire history of the HIV epidemic, there has not been a single case of children being infected in this way.

Myth: Blood transfusion is the most common way to get HIV.

Reality: This could have happened many years ago, when even doctors were poorly aware of HIV and its dangers. Currently, cases of HIV infection in medical institutions are absent or isolated.

Myth: Open wounds or contact with blood can cause HIV infection.

Reality: HIV is not transmitted through small wounds, abrasions and scratches. Infection is possible only if an uninfected person has come into contact with a large, fresh bleeding wound of an HIV-infected person with his wound or mucous membrane. Theoretically, this could happen, for example, in a traffic accident. However, no cases of transmission of the virus through contact with blood in domestic situations have been reported.

Myth: HIV can be contracted in tattoo parlors, hairdressers, beauty salons.

Reality: In principle, you can get infected in a tattoo parlor, but modern artists, knowing about HIV and hepatitis, always use disposable instruments. Making tattoos at home using homegrown methods is strictly not recommended, because in this case the risk of infection is really present. There were no cases of HIV infection in beauty salons or among stylists.

The conclusion from the above is the following: do not try to find exotic ways to become infected with HIV! If you are not a drug addict, then You actually only have a chance of contracting HIV through sex with an HIV-infected partner. Be careful, avoid promiscuous sex, use condoms, and you'll be fine!

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