Expert: Terry B - 2/21/2007

Question
Hello I am getting treatment for OCD at the momment.

I have been told by my cognitive theropist, to understand my fear of HIV, so when potential situations arise I can just ignore them.

Bassically I want to know the risk of catching HIV. My main fear was from syringes.

But I am now worrying about getting HIV from handshakes.

Bassically because I was my hands alot, my hands are sore, therefore when I shock hands with a African fellow at my University, I steriotypically linked hiv with africa, and thought what if hiv blood went in my cut on my hand. The blood would be fresh, and therefore blood to blood contact.

What would be my chances of getting HIV in this instance, from research it saids from shaking, but I am talking about shaking with sores.

Please could you explain the reasoning behind this as well, so I can understand it, to change my thinking.

Also could you explain why I cannot get it without taking drugs or having sex.

Thanks for your time, I am so worried.

Harry

Answer
Dear Harry:

Peace and all good things to you; I strongly suggest you speak with your therapist about this latest obsession.  As you are aware, your own OCD causes you to worry about things and at some point, it is irrational - meaning that no amount of information from me will assuage your fears.  I have explained that HIV is a retrovirus which targets - and lives and replicates in certain cells; it must have direct access to your bloodstream or permeable mucous membranes in sufficient quantity to infect.  Handshaking, hugging, and even kissing are not risks for HIV transmission unless you are exposed to fluid semen, vaginal secretions, blood, or breast milk.  To begin worrying about other things is a symptom of your own OCD, and has nothing to do with HIV transmission.  For your own health, this is my last communication, though I do wish you the best of health and a hopeful future.

Sincerely,

Terry