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AIDS/public toilet water

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Expert: Terry B - 2/3/2008


Question
It's kind of embarrassing, but could you help me? I am a girl. I used a public toilet yesterday. I found some blood on the toilet seat. It looked like from a woman's period. (I am not sure it is dried or wet.) I was afraid to touch them, so I just used a piece of toilet paper to cover it. And then I hovered and used the toilet. However, the piece of toilet paper slipped down into the toilet water when I was still using the toilet. Because so many girl waited outside the restroom, I just put on my pants back and left there. If there were tiny toilet water splashed back on my anus or my genital area, can I get HIV? Can vaginal fluid on my anus or private area keep the HIV virus active and into my body if the toilet water splashed to there? I did not wipe my private area much. I am a foreign student. I am not very good at English. I hope you can understand what I wrote. Thanks!

Answer
Dear Pipi:

Peace.  I can assure you that there is no chance of contracting HIV in the way you describe.  You had no direct cntact with the fluid, of which there was just a tiny amount, and these are further diluted in the water.  Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to learn and speak English so well as to ask your question.  

The very best to you and yours, and good luck with your studies.

Terry

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Terry B

Expertise

Help in assessing personal and professional risk of HIV transmission; tips in teaching about HIV/AIDS; cultural competency for teaching about HIV/AIDS in Catholic settings; considerations in US and overseas HIV/AIDS programs and education for health and other professionals. Specific questions about treatment should be referred to your health provider; opinions and information offered are not meant to replace medical advice

Experience

Seven years with academic medical center and national AIDS education and training center, seven subsequent years with focus on international HIV/AIDS in East and South Africa. Former clinician, bioethics preceptor at an academic medical center and presenter in wide range of fora including international AIDS conference.

Organizations
Disabled American Veterans American Public Health Association MENSA AA

Publications
Human Variety, EC Sociological Society Proceedings of the International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa "HIV and Primary Care"

Education/Credentials
BS Psychology MPH Master of Public Health PhD studies underway

Awards and Honors
Naval School of Health Sciences, Hospital Corps with Highest Honors, Neuropsychiatry with Honors and High Distinction

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