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Is There Any Chance Of HIV Transmission Due To This Incident During Hair Cut?

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Posted on Thu, 30 Jan 2025
Question: While my 5 year old son was cutting his hairs in a Barbour saloon, he got a cut on his neck by the Barbour's trimmer as he shaked his head a little during the process. If that trimmer had been used by someone else before my son and as I feared there might be some blood from the previous person(if any) within the blades of trimmer which might not be exposed to air for which HIV might live and infect. Is there any chance of HIV transmission due to this incident?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
The chances are remote

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
HIV incidence in is less than 0.3% and except with few countries HIV prevalence was very low only throughout the world.
HIV is viable only in certain body fluids including blood. It is highly fragile and can't survive in the outside environment not more than few seconds. As soon as the remanence of blood over the blades of trimmer (if any and if it was an infected blood) got dried, the virus can't exist any more.
So, the timing of the trimmer being used by the Barbour for the previous client and used for your son matters- that too, if the previous client is a HIV positive individual only. If the Barbour used any antiseptics to clean the trimmer before he used for your son, then that negligible possibility was also becomes 'Nil'
So, Not to worry
Dr S. Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Saisudha Kotla
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 hours later)
Respected sir, Thank you for your kind response. The Barbour first sprayed hand sanitizer on the trimmer, then kept it for about 4-5 minutes(might be more or less) and then he used it for my son. I feared if there were bloods from the previous person got into some area between the trimmer blades where sanitizer has not reached and sanitizer has dried before contacting that blood and also that blood containing part has been exposed to air then it might cause infection to my son. Is it possible sir?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (20 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your son's HIV risk is almost 'NIL'

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back
First of all, HIV can't be viable for that duration
Sanitizer is thin and can spread easily than that of blood. There is no chance for HIV transmission in this route.
So, Your son is absolutely safe.
Dr S. Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Saisudha Kotla
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (13 hours later)
Respected sir, Thank you for your response. I got a little confused as you have replied in the beginning of the last reply that "Your son's HIV risk is almost 'NIL'" but lastly you have replied "Your son is absolutely safe".
Is my son safe or there is still any fear of infection?
I am sure there was minimum 3-4 minutes gap between the use of trimmer on other person and my son.
Is there any test required for this incident?
I am sorry if I disturbed you but I am worried for my son only, I might not be much concerned if I were there in place of him. Hope you will help me.
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 minutes later)
I compared the HIV in syringe with the HIV(If any) within 2 blades of the trimmer where there is no air exposure so HIV might infectious after 3-4 minutes. So I feared.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your son's HIV risk is almost 'NIL'

Detailed Answer:
HI.
Welcome back.
Virus are submicroscopic particles. Less than micron in size. The space between the trimmer blades does not matter. These spaces are not a vacuum space. It will get dried and virus will die within few seconds. Not to worry.
Dr S. Murugan
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan

HIV AIDS Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 3108 Questions

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Is There Any Chance Of HIV Transmission Due To This Incident During Hair Cut?

Brief Answer: The chances are remote Detailed Answer: Hi, HIV incidence in is less than 0.3% and except with few countries HIV prevalence was very low only throughout the world. HIV is viable only in certain body fluids including blood. It is highly fragile and can't survive in the outside environment not more than few seconds. As soon as the remanence of blood over the blades of trimmer (if any and if it was an infected blood) got dried, the virus can't exist any more. So, the timing of the trimmer being used by the Barbour for the previous client and used for your son matters- that too, if the previous client is a HIV positive individual only. If the Barbour used any antiseptics to clean the trimmer before he used for your son, then that negligible possibility was also becomes 'Nil' So, Not to worry Dr S. Murugan