AboutTerry 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
Expert: Terry B Date: 6/17/2008 Subject: transmission question
Question Hi,
I know you cannot get HIV from a toilet seat. But something got me thinking the other day. I took my 4 and 6 year old daughters to a public restroom. Apparantly the lady before us was on her menstrual cycle. She did not flush the toilet and there was blood spatter on the seat with a tampon floating in the toilet (gross, I know.) My 4 year old plopped onto the seat before I could even blink! In this situation could my child contract HIV? I am not always around when they use a public restroom. I always clean it for them. This week my daughter is at camp and goes to a public park porta-potty restroom by herself. Now while I tell her not to go into a dirty restroom and tell her to wash her hands, she is only 6 and will forget. Is this a risk if the person before her was HIV postive? Both my girls touch toilet seats to lift themselves on. They know to wash hands but don't always do it!
Answer Dear Melanie:
Peace, and welcome to parenting. As you know, the world holds hundreds of dangers every day; we do our best to protect and love and still, life happens - we just try to keep most of it good.
There is some remote HIV risk because blood is present - the degree of risk is lessened by the small amount of blood and probable contact with intact skin. Of all the things you could find to worry about, this wouldn't be a good use of energy. Teaching hygiene and to avoid fluids of others (Hepatitis risk is higher) is part of what we do, and yes, kids forget.
The good news is that for many things besides HIV, a small exposure can lead to immunity. I reassured myself with that fact after sterilizing bottles only to find my kids eating dirt out of the garden.
There's a balance between wanting them to be careful and yet not wanting to make them frightened of everything. It's not easy, but doing the best you can is all we can do.
