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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contaminated Foods?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Sep 2017
Question: Hi, general queries about the transmission of HIV or HBV which i was wondering.
1) can hiv be transmitted from food? Lets assusme, the paanwala has a cut on his finger and has mixed blood with the pan, and i chew the pan with cancer sores in my mouth.
2) can it be trasmitted via electric razors in hair saloon? Assuming you have a cut during trimming !
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Transmission of HIV through these methods are quite unlikely.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
1. HIV can not be transmitted through food. Even if we consider that the food server is HIV positive individual and if he/she has some injury in the hand or fingers, transmission of HIV through serves is almost 'nil' as HIV can not survive outside the body fluids not more than few seconds. Moreover swallowing through mouth (even with the presence mouth ulcers) HIV transmission is negligible as human saliva contains an enzyme called Lyzozyme which is inimical to HIV.
2. HIV can not be viable with the heat of Electric trimmers while it is on working and HIV can not survive not more than few seconds outside the body fluids.
So transmission of HIV through both these modes is very much unlikely.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (48 minutes later)
Thanks doc ! So the basic understanding is, it requires human to human contact and connot be picked from environmental surfaces.
Is that right?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Your HIV risk is almost nil

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Rather than human to human contact, it is the exchange of body fluids including blood transfusion that decides the transmission of HIV. At the same time saliva, sweat, urine, tears and motion are not infectious whereas blood,semen and vaginal fluid are infectious. Even in these fluids HIV cannot survive as soon as they get dried.
Abrasions over the skin or mucus membrane facilitates the transmission.
In your case HIV risk is almost nil.
Dr S Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan

HIV AIDS Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 3109 Questions

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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contaminated Foods?

Brief Answer: Transmission of HIV through these methods are quite unlikely. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome once again to HCM. Thanks for posting your query. 1. HIV can not be transmitted through food. Even if we consider that the food server is HIV positive individual and if he/she has some injury in the hand or fingers, transmission of HIV through serves is almost 'nil' as HIV can not survive outside the body fluids not more than few seconds. Moreover swallowing through mouth (even with the presence mouth ulcers) HIV transmission is negligible as human saliva contains an enzyme called Lyzozyme which is inimical to HIV. 2. HIV can not be viable with the heat of Electric trimmers while it is on working and HIV can not survive not more than few seconds outside the body fluids. So transmission of HIV through both these modes is very much unlikely. Dr S.Murugan