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
Question dear Terry,
i am very stressed about this.was outside with boyfriend and little cousin,visiting street celebration.while me and boyfriend were waiting for the cousin with our dog,i realised we were standing in a series of stains which looked strange=fresh and wet, like some liquid vomit, maybe something spoiled, i really dont know.it was dark outside so i dont know color but my feeling was it was blood (or partially blood).after few minutes,boyfriend gave cousin the dog to walk.we use long thin rope,which you have to regulate on your own so it often touches the ground.then i became really scared,it touched those fresh stains a while ago.i dont know.my cousin has some little cuts on his hands, like every child. today i came back to control what do the stains look like, but it was raining in the night and there were no stains, even no trace of stains. is it possible, the blood can be washed completely by rain from some concrete paving? it would sound too strange to send him for the tests.. but what can i do? wait for next xxx years if he is ok or if it is my fault?thank you very very much!
Answer Dear Zdenka:
Peace. I don't see a significant risk in what you describe; were you both knee-deep in fresh blood it would be different. A stain of possible blood is certainly not something to be played with, but a small amount of something on a leash, and the slim possibility that the leash - exactly where it was stained - touched an open wound.... just not very likely.
So peace, I don't even see reason for testing here. More information at www.thebody.com or www.avert.org.
