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Dear All, The Question Is About Possible HIV Transmission. My

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Posted on Sun, 10 Jan 2021
Question: Dear all,
The question is about possible HIV transmission.
My baby (3 years old) sometimes sucks a soother. A bit about his health: no major sores in mouth (might be something on lips, but very small, no bleeding gums and so on), but he has outside hemorrhoids (but no blood in poop by now) and he is constipated sometimes.
His soother is standard, has small holes and tight connections and also some space inside the silicon soother that he sucks (by the way, I'm not sure if it's silicon or smth else with pores, also silicon might be broken a bit because the soother is old, and I threw it away so I can't check). So when I wash it, water can get inside the soother by small holes.
My question is: if a hiv+ woman inserts the soother inside her vagina or anus, which may contain lubricant/gel to treat hemorrhoid/Vaseline/smth like this, and her body fluid mixed with gel (or anything else mentioned) gets inside the soother (imagine the space inside of soother) and then the child sucks it several hours after (no less then 4 hours), can it infect him?
I heard different opinions: usually people say that HIV doesn't survive outside a human body, but couldn't gel make a kind of hypoxic environment inside the soother? I don't think the soother is airtight but what if the gel (or vaginal/anal fluids/tiny feces pieces) somehow sealed the holes in soother?
Should the child get testing? If so, when after the incident? I really hope that he didn't have a real risk.
Many thanks!
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Dear all,
The question is about possible HIV transmission.
My baby (3 years old) sometimes sucks a soother. A bit about his health: no major sores in mouth (might be something on lips, but very small, no bleeding gums and so on), but he has outside hemorrhoids (but no blood in poop by now) and he is constipated sometimes.
His soother is standard, has small holes and tight connections and also some space inside the silicon soother that he sucks (by the way, I'm not sure if it's silicon or smth else with pores, also silicon might be broken a bit because the soother is old, and I threw it away so I can't check). So when I wash it, water can get inside the soother by small holes.
My question is: if a hiv+ woman inserts the soother inside her vagina or anus, which may contain lubricant/gel to treat hemorrhoid/Vaseline/smth like this, and her body fluid mixed with gel (or anything else mentioned) gets inside the soother (imagine the space inside of soother) and then the child sucks it several hours after (no less then 4 hours), can it infect him?
I heard different opinions: usually people say that HIV doesn't survive outside a human body, but couldn't gel make a kind of hypoxic environment inside the soother? I don't think the soother is airtight but what if the gel (or vaginal/anal fluids/tiny feces pieces) somehow sealed the holes in soother?
Should the child get testing? If so, when after the incident? I really hope that he didn't have a real risk.
Many thanks!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your child's HIV risk is almost 'nil'

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcoe to ASK A DOCTOR through HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV cannot be viable outside the body fluids for not more than few seconds. HIV cannot survive in vasline or any other lubricants other than body fluids.
Why are you imagining odd things like someone with HIV +ive came and insert a soother of a baby into her vagina or anus?
It looks funny and can't happen.
If we consider that something like this has happened, even then the HIV transmission risk for your baby is negligible.
I don't feel that your child needs any test for HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Your child's HIV risk is almost 'nil'

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcoe to ASK A DOCTOR through HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV cannot be viable outside the body fluids for not more than few seconds. HIV cannot survive in vasline or any other lubricants other than body fluids.
Why are you imagining odd things like someone with HIV +ive came and insert a soother of a baby into her vagina or anus?
It looks funny and can't happen.
If we consider that something like this has happened, even then the HIV transmission risk for your baby is negligible.
I don't feel that your child needs any test for HIV infection.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 days later)
Dear Doctor,
Thank you very much for the answer.
A follow-up question (I see it sounds odd, but a person I speak about could be drunk so that's why I was concerned). I have understood about the soother, but if it was not a soother but a nasal spray (in the same circumstances I described above)? The upper part of the spray's tube seems to be complex with many details (I don't know what's inside but anyway it's a standard tube for sprays with long tip and a tiny hole at the tope, as I see). If HIV+ fluid gets directly inside it, could it be somehow trapped inside the parts of the nasal spray and then a child who use it be at risk?
Also my child sometimes has nose bleeding when he sneezes (I think because of sneezing some capillary in nose got damaged). The bleeding is not sever and it stops after a while. If we use that nasal spray could something gets inside his bloodstream that way? Of after several hours after the incident with HIV+ liquid the spray is no risk anyway?
Thank you!
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Dear Doctor,
Thank you very much for the answer.
A follow-up question (I see it sounds odd, but a person I speak about could be drunk so that's why I was concerned). I have understood about the soother, but if it was not a soother but a nasal spray (in the same circumstances I described above)? The upper part of the spray's tube seems to be complex with many details (I don't know what's inside but anyway it's a standard tube for sprays with long tip and a tiny hole at the tope, as I see). If HIV+ fluid gets directly inside it, could it be somehow trapped inside the parts of the nasal spray and then a child who use it be at risk?
Also my child sometimes has nose bleeding when he sneezes (I think because of sneezing some capillary in nose got damaged). The bleeding is not sever and it stops after a while. If we use that nasal spray could something gets inside his bloodstream that way? Of after several hours after the incident with HIV+ liquid the spray is no risk anyway?
Thank you!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Theoratical possibility is there, but unheard so far.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If it happens as you pointed out, that HIV infected fluid or secretions of an HIV +ive individual caught inside the nostrils of a nasal spray and it had been used (before that fluid gets dried - depending upon the local temperature and humidity) into the nose of your child especially after an episode of a nasal bleeding (Epistaxis), we can not rule out the possibility of HIV transmission to the child. But such an incident is unheard and is very much unlikely.
Dr S. Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Theoratical possibility is there, but unheard so far.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
If it happens as you pointed out, that HIV infected fluid or secretions of an HIV +ive individual caught inside the nostrils of a nasal spray and it had been used (before that fluid gets dried - depending upon the local temperature and humidity) into the nose of your child especially after an episode of a nasal bleeding (Epistaxis), we can not rule out the possibility of HIV transmission to the child. But such an incident is unheard and is very much unlikely.
Dr S. Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (12 hours later)
Dear Doctor,
I have posted the third question but I can see it here, so I write it down again.
1) Understood. You wrote we used the spray after the nose bleeding but it might be not after but in course of bleeding to stop it. Does it change your answer from "very much unlikely"?
2) We might use it when the child doesn't have bleeding but might have just a few visible blood in sneezing (it happens at time to time).
3) Another situation: if we speak about not the spray but about nasal drops, do they pose any risk with the same case with HIV+ blood? the structure of the drops is simple - just thin tip with small hole, but I don't see any spaces and details inside.

Thank you very much for your help.
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Dear Doctor,
I have posted the third question but I can see it here, so I write it down again.
1) Understood. You wrote we used the spray after the nose bleeding but it might be not after but in course of bleeding to stop it. Does it change your answer from "very much unlikely"?
2) We might use it when the child doesn't have bleeding but might have just a few visible blood in sneezing (it happens at time to time).
3) Another situation: if we speak about not the spray but about nasal drops, do they pose any risk with the same case with HIV+ blood? the structure of the drops is simple - just thin tip with small hole, but I don't see any spaces and details inside.

Thank you very much for your help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
HIV transmission risk for the child is negligible

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
1. It depends upon the condition of the infected blood capitivity and the condition of the nasal epithelial lining (Completely healed or not).
2. Theoratical possibility of HIV transmission cannot be ruled out.
3. Dropper or the nose piece of a nasal spray does not change the situation much.
But all such things not reported to my knowledge so far in these 40 years of HIV pandemic, eventhough lakhs of people are using nasal drops or nasal spray daily in their day today life.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
HIV transmission risk for the child is negligible

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
1. It depends upon the condition of the infected blood capitivity and the condition of the nasal epithelial lining (Completely healed or not).
2. Theoratical possibility of HIV transmission cannot be ruled out.
3. Dropper or the nose piece of a nasal spray does not change the situation much.
But all such things not reported to my knowledge so far in these 40 years of HIV pandemic, eventhough lakhs of people are using nasal drops or nasal spray daily in their day today life.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (8 hours later)
Dear Doctor,
Thank you again very much. Sorry for so many questions.
1) Understood about the nasal sprays/drops.
2) Speaking of other cosmetic and drug tubes. You wrote in the first answer that HIV cannot survive in any gel/liquid other then body fluids. Is it right to say that it should not survive (after several hours) in a tube of balm/cream or smth like this? I used some cream on the anal hole of my child (because he had outside hemorrhoids), applied some cream on my finger and then on the hole and afraid if some of it could get inside the hole.
Am I right that there should be no viable HIV in the cream? The structure if the tube is simple - just tube and a cap.
Thank you!
default
Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Dear Doctor,
Thank you again very much. Sorry for so many questions.
1) Understood about the nasal sprays/drops.
2) Speaking of other cosmetic and drug tubes. You wrote in the first answer that HIV cannot survive in any gel/liquid other then body fluids. Is it right to say that it should not survive (after several hours) in a tube of balm/cream or smth like this? I used some cream on the anal hole of my child (because he had outside hemorrhoids), applied some cream on my finger and then on the hole and afraid if some of it could get inside the hole.
Am I right that there should be no viable HIV in the cream? The structure if the tube is simple - just tube and a cap.
Thank you!
default
Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (4 hours later)
2) just wanted to add a point to the question: in case the tube is practically empty, pressed out, with just some gel inside, would it matter if HIV fluid gets inside? Should it become non-transmittable after several hours?
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Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
2) just wanted to add a point to the question: in case the tube is practically empty, pressed out, with just some gel inside, would it matter if HIV fluid gets inside? Should it become non-transmittable after several hours?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No such risk exist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV is a very tender organism. It cannot survive outside anything other than body fluids not more than few seconds. Especially chemicals of any types are inimical to HIV.. It cannot survive inside any empty tube or over the tips of the tubes.
You please once have a consultation with a good psychiatrist also. Don't take it as an adverse comment.
Dr S Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
No such risk exist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
HIV is a very tender organism. It cannot survive outside anything other than body fluids not more than few seconds. Especially chemicals of any types are inimical to HIV.. It cannot survive inside any empty tube or over the tips of the tubes.
You please once have a consultation with a good psychiatrist also. Don't take it as an adverse comment.
Dr S Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan

HIV AIDS Specialist

Practicing since :1974

Answered : 3112 Questions

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Dear All, The Question Is About Possible HIV Transmission. My

Dear all, The question is about possible HIV transmission. My baby (3 years old) sometimes sucks a soother. A bit about his health: no major sores in mouth (might be something on lips, but very small, no bleeding gums and so on), but he has outside hemorrhoids (but no blood in poop by now) and he is constipated sometimes. His soother is standard, has small holes and tight connections and also some space inside the silicon soother that he sucks (by the way, I'm not sure if it's silicon or smth else with pores, also silicon might be broken a bit because the soother is old, and I threw it away so I can't check). So when I wash it, water can get inside the soother by small holes. My question is: if a hiv+ woman inserts the soother inside her vagina or anus, which may contain lubricant/gel to treat hemorrhoid/Vaseline/smth like this, and her body fluid mixed with gel (or anything else mentioned) gets inside the soother (imagine the space inside of soother) and then the child sucks it several hours after (no less then 4 hours), can it infect him? I heard different opinions: usually people say that HIV doesn't survive outside a human body, but couldn't gel make a kind of hypoxic environment inside the soother? I don't think the soother is airtight but what if the gel (or vaginal/anal fluids/tiny feces pieces) somehow sealed the holes in soother? Should the child get testing? If so, when after the incident? I really hope that he didn't have a real risk. Many thanks!