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I Was Wandering The Possibility Of Contracting Hiv Through Smoking
Question: I was wandering the possibility of contracting hiv through smoking equipment. I was smoking drugs with someone that has hiv through a glass pipe when I noticed both our lips were cracked but not bleeding. is it possible that the lip wounds being moist could become a vessel for microscopic blood particles to be transmitted into my cracked lip. i am very concerned. I used a lighter to heat the mouthpiece for about 7-10 seconds between each pass to "kill" any bacteria would this make any difference?
Brief Answer:
The risk of contracting HIV is very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Joshf1104,
Welcome to Ask a Doctor Service.
The risk of transmission of HIV through the exposure you had mentioned is very rare because there is no direct contact of any infectious fluid in your case and the virus can not survive outside the human body in an open environment so don't get worried or tensed. Be relaxed, forget the episode and live your life normally.
Thank You
The risk of contracting HIV is very unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Joshf1104,
Welcome to Ask a Doctor Service.
The risk of transmission of HIV through the exposure you had mentioned is very rare because there is no direct contact of any infectious fluid in your case and the virus can not survive outside the human body in an open environment so don't get worried or tensed. Be relaxed, forget the episode and live your life normally.
Thank You
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
thank you for your response. I appreciate it I know saliva alone can not transmit hiv i guess my biggest concern here was microscopic traces of infected blood still lying on the utensil from the surface of BOTH our lips being cracked and touching it. Although it is not visually bleeding my concern is the moistness of saliva on the wound would lift up molecular traces of blood onto the utensil
Brief Answer:
You are thinking excessively for very rare possibilities.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Joshf1104,
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
HIV virus can not survive longer outside the human body in an open environment so the possibilities for which you had mentioned are very rare and the risk of transmission of HIV through such exposure is extremely unlikely so allay the fear or anxiety and move on in life without any stress.
Thank You
You are thinking excessively for very rare possibilities.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Joshf1104,
Welcome back and thanks for follow-up.
HIV virus can not survive longer outside the human body in an open environment so the possibilities for which you had mentioned are very rare and the risk of transmission of HIV through such exposure is extremely unlikely so allay the fear or anxiety and move on in life without any stress.
Thank You
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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