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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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History Of Gingivitis And Cold Sores. Bleeding Mouth After Eating Cherry Given By HIV Positive Person. Possibility Of Infection?

I have crippling anxiety over an instance that happened 10/04/13. I have a a friend that is HIV+. We went out to a bar. He had a gin and tonic sitting out for about 10 minutes before I got to the table. There was a cherry on top of the ice not touching any of the liquid for what I imagine quite some time. He handed me the cherry and without even thinking I ate it. I have had a history of gingivitis and cold sores. Though at that moment nothing in my mouth was bleeding. I later texted him and asked if there was any possibility that his mouth was bleeding and he said no. So my question is, what is the possibility of contracting HIV is this scenario? Would the ph of the cherry render the virus inactive? Even if there was a canker sore, would you still be unaffected? Can alcohol in a beverage kill it? I took an OraSure test 2 weeks after and it was negative. Is OraSure reliable? Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance.
posted on Sat, 26 Oct 2013
Twitter Sun, 27 Oct 2013 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 28 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on
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HIV AIDS Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.

There are so many people are living with their family comfortably for years without infecting their children and other close relative who were all having such occasions frequently.
Infection through an inanimate object or any eatables is not possible. HIV cannot live outside the body and body fluids even for few seconds.
Moreover as you said the PH of Cherry and the alcohol are inimical to the virus. So such possibility is not existing. we, the health care providers and social workers, volunteers have shared many eatables during occasions with the people living with HIV and we remain HIV free.

Orasure is more conclusive only after 12 weeks after the exposure.
Dr S.murugan
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History Of Gingivitis And Cold Sores. Bleeding Mouth After Eating Cherry Given By HIV Positive Person. Possibility Of Infection?

Hi, Welcome to HCM. There are so many people are living with their family comfortably for years without infecting their children and other close relative who were all having such occasions frequently. Infection through an inanimate object or any eatables is not possible. HIV cannot live outside the body and body fluids even for few seconds. Moreover as you said the PH of Cherry and the alcohol are inimical to the virus. So such possibility is not existing. we, the health care providers and social workers, volunteers have shared many eatables during occasions with the people living with HIV and we remain HIV free. Orasure is more conclusive only after 12 weeks after the exposure. Dr S.murugan