Expert: Terry B - 4/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, There are two occurrences that i am worried about. Back on march 7
i was playing basketball in a local YMCA and when the game was over
when i was walking back to my car i noticed some blood on my arm.  When i
got home i washed the blood off and then i looked at my jersey and saw
some blood on there as well. I started to freak out,I am pretty sure
that i didn't have any open cuts on my arm but i really cant remember. I
worry tremendously about everything. The other was on April 3, i was
playing basketball again and at halftime i noticed i had a scratch on the
top of my pinky and it was bleeding a little bit, i washed it off and
then put a Band-Aid on it and then returned to the game. After the game
i looked at my jersey and saw that there was a little bit of blood on
the side of my jersey.  The blood could have been from me but then i
don't know because the scratch was on the top of my pinky. so know i am
freaked out again. I worry about everything and the anxiety is killing
me. The back of my neck hurts and im tired all the time and i hope its
all due to the anxiety. I heard that air will kill the virus and so i was
wondering if somebody who gets cut if the blood thats on the cut if
thats exposed to the air is that blood loosing its inability to infect
someone if they had HIV. Do you think that i need any testing. I have been
in the same relationship for 3 years and i was fully tested before the
relationship and my girlfriend was a virgin before me, i have never
been outside of the relationship and neither has she and we dont use
drugs. Please let me know what you think.   "


ANSWER: Dear Jeff:

Peace and hello to another "round ball" player.  Cuts, scrapes, and a little blood here and there are all part of the game if it's played well; the precautions that the college and pro leagues go to when blood is spilled is just that - precaution - because of some small risk of HIV or Hepatitis transmission.  The failure to have similar precautions on the playground or casual game courts does increase potential for infections, but I know of no cases where HIV transmission has been traced to a basketball game.  "Air" doesn't "kill" HIV - blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk which has dried, however, is not an HIV risk because the virus cannot retain its reproductive capacity unless in fluid.

Now... on to what I think is the more important issue - your worry and anxiety.  If your neck is hurting and you are tired all the time, you most probably have an issue for which you would do well to visit a professional health provider.  There are many virii that can cause similar symptoms, including those that cause colds, flu, and mononucleosis.  

Anxiety is an unspecified fear - and the attendant stress can impact our immune system, making us more susceptible to those pathogens in our environment - a bit of a vicious cycle that can be broken by a visit to a competent health professional, including testing as recommended by that professional.  This gives you knowledge - whatever the outcome of the testing - and allows you to take appropriate action or access treatment.  

So.. "what I think" is that you should stop worrying and go see a good health care provider, whereby you can find out what is wrong get treatment.

Hope this helps!

Terry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The last couple of days i have stopped worrying about it and my symtoms went away. I have googled anxiety symptoms and everything i had was listed there, I think that i was just so worried.  The reason why i asked the question was to know if i had anything to worry about in terms of hiv.  

Answer
Dear Jeff:

Peace.  Glad for resolution of your symptoms.  Getting a check-up is not a bad idea either; having a health provider you know and trust is as good as (or better than) having a reliable mechanic.

Best of health to you and yours.

Terry