Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 10/27/2007

Question
Hi,

Has anyone ever got AIDS from something other than, sex or using needles after someone with AIDS?

Like if someone touched a door handle or money, and got AIDS from that, then had sex with their boyfriend/girlfriend, they would think it was from their boyfriend/girlfriend. So has this ever happened, or how likely could it be?

I worry about AIDS a lot, and there's a lot of things I don't do because of it
I also have OCD
 
My psychologist said I could be right about the ways I think you can get AIDS
So how do so many other people not care about the risks they take everyday?


Answer
I'm not sure why your psychologist would suggest that you are correct in how people contract HIV because people do not get it from touching door handles or money or any type of casual contact with other people. There have been very few cases of people contracting HIV aside from the 3 main routes (unprotected sex, sharing needles and from mother to child) and those are generally occupational transmissions.

HIV is not an easy virus to contract and there is really no reason to worry about it. Take precautions by having protected sex and dont share needles and you will be fine.