3 Days Ago, This Sales Lady Spit While Talking Closely

Posted on Thu, 9 Jul 2020

Question: 3 days ago, this sales lady spit while talking closely to me (by mistake) in the shop and I felt the spit it on my face upper lip as I was not wearing a mask. Now, I m paranoid that I have COVID. I m so doubtful n fearful that I m going crazy. Don't think I have COVID symptoms as no pain in the throat just discomfort. No other symptoms. I am now extremely OCD (potential guilt) about going out in fear of spreading possibly non-existent COVID. So, I am also not going out due to possibly irrational fear. High anxiety n stress maybe for no reason. I do have pain in the extreme back left side of the tongue - may be like inflammation that maybe radiating to the throat. I don' t want to get tested as it will be a risk to catch it in clinics as they are full of viruses. Do you think I m infected? or I m doubting/stressing much due to my OCD? What to do? Help. Male. 37. Diabetic.

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Small risk

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. The fact that saliva fell on your upper lip would not significantly increase your chances of getting COVID-19, since, if she had the virus, it would more likely be passed by small droplets in the air (so whether or not you had felt spit, the risk would be the same). So your overall risk of getting COVID-19 from this exposure would depend on how much COVID-19 is in your community, but in general, I would not consider this any more of a risk than being around others without a mask would be.

While I would recommend using a mask and practicing social distancing, as well as frequent hand-washing, since you don't know if this sales lady had the virus or not, I would not say that self-isolation is necessary at this point. If you do develop definite symptoms, such as cough, fever, or shortness of breath, I would encourage you to self-isolate and get tested at that time.

I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (1 hour later)

Thanks doctor so much for putting my mind at rest. I think whatever hallucinationed throat discomfort I m feeling is because I m probably thinking and worrying too much about this. That middle aged lady was working in the shop so probably wasn't infected? I really appreciate that you confirmed that I m not infected as per my current symptoms n didn't spread the virus. Can you please advise how to stop this irrational, repetitive fear, panic and anxiety? Tried almost all treatments. I m ocd since 5 years. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Try not to be worried

Detailed Answer:
Since the lady was working, she most likely did not have symptoms, which does decrease the chances that she had the virus.

I am not a psychologist, so I don't know how much I can help with your OCD. I would only try to reassure you that you don't need to worry about COVID-19 in your situation. Also, if you were infected, symptoms may take 14 days to show up, but usually, they come 4-5 days after exposure.

So if you haven't had clear symptoms at this point, that is another reason to believe you were not infected.

I hope you can get your mind off of this and enjoy life again.
I would try to do something you like to do that will also benefit you, such as exercise or a hobby you enjoy.

Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee