I was out in London a week ago and got accosted by a drunk, but very merry, homeless man who tried to shake my hand but ended up digging his fingernail into the outside of my thumb. It was only for a few seconds but it hurt and caused my thumb to bleed (albeit only a little) and I still have a mark there. It's essentially a small scratch/scab but red and inflamed a bit.
Anyway, I'm very worried that I may have contracted HIV from the incident, I've hardly been eating anything because of all the worrying and my sleeping has been really bad too.
I know that the man may have been more likely to have HIV (from sharing needles, etc) than perhaps another person but I'd like to know:
1. Is there are chance of contracting HIV from this incident? If not then please could you very briefly explain why
2. If I'd have gone to hospital straight afterward would they have offered me PEP?
3. If you were in my position would you want to get tested for HIV?
Hello George,
Thank you for your post and welcome to our forum.
Let me reply to each of your queries here below:
1.) Not at all. You were bleeding. In order to possibly be at risk of HIV infection, you would need to come into contact with his blood, in the case that he was positive, and this blood would need to gain access into your bloodstream. What you describe does not involve this, hence no risk to you.
2.) No, not at all.
3.) No, there is no need to get tested under these circumstances.
Best wishes,
José
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