Expert: Terry B - 5/3/2008

Question
I would like to ask wheather I have hiv or not. As You are an expert,Please answer me.

I got a poke from a thrown syringe used by a drug addict(I'm sure). The injecting part of the syringe was broken(The storage container). The needle was only there. It poked in my finger. Actually I stepped on it and there was a red dot.

It was days old,for sure.

I am thinking of taking ELISA as PCR is not available in my country (NEPAL). So, please tell me my chances of HIV.

Its 3rd week and I show no symptoms but My throat is covered with mucous and it comes several times a day. I have no swallowing problems.

Is that A Pshylogical problem. Let me add that due to my family problems I am getting pretty less sleep. Is it beacause of that. I was reading the early symptoms of HIV since the day of accident.

Please help me I'm spooking out.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Dear Anuraag:

Peace.  

No one can diagnose HIV infection online, and symptoms of initial HIV infection are similar to other more common infections, including the flu.  The ONLY way to know your HIV status is through testing, which should be performed in context of counseling about what your results mean, as well as where to go for risk reduction and treatment if needed.  

I will venture to say that a hollow-bore needle (type used for injection) that has been on the ground for a day most probably does not contain sufficient HIV on the surface to provide an HIV risk in what you describe. The reason I say "on the surface" is because that is what you would have encountered by stepping on it.  Using the needle to inject yourself would have greater risk.

I would advise that you schedule an appointment for a reliable testing site for six weeks from your date of possible exposure.  In the meantime, reassure yourself that your risk is low while at the same time protecting others from your blood, semen, and/or vaginal secretions and breast milk (I cannot tell your gender from your letter).  A report on Nepal's HIV/AIDS initiatives can be found at
http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/nepal_2008_country_progress_report_en.pdf

and suggests that there are multiple testing sites, especially in urban areas, and treatment is becoming increasingly available.

The best to you and yours, and please let me know how you progress.

Sincerely,

Terry