Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 6/26/2006

Question

The thing is that i live with a voilent mother, and when i am asleep i just get paranoid that she did something to me, so when i wake up i check for open marks but i couldn't find any.

My question is , is there any other way blood can enter the body if a skin isnt broken.  

Answer
HIV is transmitted when infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid and/or breast milk enter another person's body. It doesnt have to be through a cut- it can also be through a natural opening to the body (mouth, vagina etc). However, it cannot pass through unbroken skin.

Your mother would not be able to scratch you and transmit HIV so you dont need to worry about that.

Can you leave the house? That is very unsettling to know that your mother may be prone to hurting you. I am not a mental health professional, but if you think your mother would even try to do something like that, then I would think that is your biggest problem- the likelihood of her infecting you is so small, but living with someone who may try is scary. Please get some help! Let me know if you have more questions!