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Can HIV Be Contracted From Biting Nails And Touching Blood?
Question: Can I get HIV from biting my nails and touching blood
Brief Answer:
Certain conditions are to be fulfilled for HIV transmission
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. For HIV infection to be transmitted to a person, the following conditions have to be favorable.
(i) The contaminating blood should be from a HIV infected person and contain an adequate viral load.
(ii) The HIV particles should be viable at the time of transmission.
(iii) Transmission occurs through open cuts, wounds and natural orifices from which the virus might enter the system and multiply to cause infection.
2. If you have been biting your nails recently then it is important to know if there was any fresh bleeding wound in the finger nail.
3. The risk of HIV transmission is very low however it is important to know the exact sequence of events should you want to discuss in more detail. Please avoid touching any blood or body fluids using bare hands, whether you bite your nails or not.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Certain conditions are to be fulfilled for HIV transmission
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. For HIV infection to be transmitted to a person, the following conditions have to be favorable.
(i) The contaminating blood should be from a HIV infected person and contain an adequate viral load.
(ii) The HIV particles should be viable at the time of transmission.
(iii) Transmission occurs through open cuts, wounds and natural orifices from which the virus might enter the system and multiply to cause infection.
2. If you have been biting your nails recently then it is important to know if there was any fresh bleeding wound in the finger nail.
3. The risk of HIV transmission is very low however it is important to know the exact sequence of events should you want to discuss in more detail. Please avoid touching any blood or body fluids using bare hands, whether you bite your nails or not.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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