Expert: Terry B - 11/9/2006

Question
hi terry.. i found you on the web and i would like to ask although i am not
living the usa. i have nobody else to ask these days... my friend works for one
ngo which works with gipsies, she visits all those strange colonies where they
live in dirty, small etc cribs and they have various diseases. they made a party
for them in july and one man /she told me he was very thin, no teeth, bad
complexion/ and wanted to dance with her. she went with him and he had
something in his hand and cut her on the arm with it. than she had some
eczema on the arms, but the doctor told her it was a sun allergy. these days
she feels very tired and she cant drink any alcohol because she has serious
bellyache etc when she drinks any amount /it can be only a glass of wine and
next day she is completely bad/. one her friend told her it could be hepatitis.
but i am afraid it could be hiv. what do you think about that? these days i met
her and hugged her and kissed on her cheeks... she has a little bit bad
complexion and i do have problems with my lips these days i dont know the
english word for it, it is when you have a little open cut in the ingle of the lips
when you have lower immunity and you have to eat the b vitamines etc... so
could it be transmitted this way that my bad lips are in contact with her
complexion? what amount of blood is infectious? thank you really very very
much for your answer.  

Answer
Dear Zdenka:

Peace and blessings to you and yours. I am painfully aware of the many places of unequal access to clean water and health care; I am glad for the generosity of your friend and the welcome she enjoyed among those who share the little they have with her.  Your friend should go to a professional health provider instead of relying on her friend's opinion, and soon.  I am also concerned about what you describe for her health, please encourage her to have a full examination and testing.  There are many things besides Hepatitis and HIV that can cause what you describe, and treatment available.

As for you and your health, as well as your risk, be somewhat relieved that the small amount of fluids to which you were exposed indicates small risk.  In the case of worry about HIV transmission (unlikely there would be HIV symptoms such as you describe for your friend so early), you speak of kissing her cheeks; the fluids that transmit HIV most effectively are blood, blood products (which could include drainage from a facial infection), semen, vaginal secretions, and (usually from lactating mothers to their children) breast milk.  If you were exposed, it would be to a small amount for a small period of time and not frequently.  This does not mean an infection could not be transmitted, but it is unlikely.

You are right in knowing that if your immune system is poor, you are at greater risk for contracting illness.  As your friend's health seems quite poor, she should (as I mentioned above) be tested for Hepatitis and (for peace of mind more than anything) HIV.  You would also benefit from a visit to a health provider (doctor, district officer, nurse practitioner, or whatever is available) for examination and how to improve your immunity.  

Again, please encourage your friend to have an examination and testing; for you, the same would be helpful and hopefully lead to better health.  

I hope this is helpful and I look forward to hearing back from you as to the results.  

All good things for you and yours.

Sincerely,

Terry