Question 1

I got bitten by a rat and took a tetanus shot within 5 hours. The doctor advised me to get rabies shots too, just to be cautious. Is that the right thing to do? The wound is almost healed now. What do you think?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the doctor's suggestion to take rabies injections as a precautionary measure is correct, even if the wound has almost healed, as rabies can incubate for weeks to months; taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), including rabies  vaccination, within 24-48 hours of the bite can effectively prevent rabies infection.

Question 2

Hey, I recently had an HIV exposure and it's been about 22 days now. I went for an HIV proviral DNA test and it came back as non-reactive, which is a relief. But, I've started noticing some acne on my chest. Could this be an early symptom of HIV infection? I'm a bit worried and would love to hear your thoughts.

Accepted Answer

use medicine

Question 3

I'm really worried about how long HIV can live outside the body. Like, if someone with HIV accidentally gets a drop of blood on a chair or table, is it still dangerous if I touch that same spot after 30 minutes? Can the virus still be active?

Accepted Answer

HIV survives outside the body for a short period: 15-30 minutes on a dry surface, up to 72 hours in a moist environment, but risk of transmission through casual contact is extremely low, and standard household cleaning and disinfection kill HIV.

I'm wondering if there's any risk of getting HIV from getting a handjob where the person used oil. And what about other STIs? Is there anything else I could be at risk for? Do I need to get tested, and if so, which tests should I consider?

u won't

More Infectious Disease Health Queries

I got bitten by a rat and took a tetanus shot within 5 hours. The doctor advised me to get rabies shots too, just to be cautious. Is that the right thing to do? The wound is almost healed now. What do you think?

I'm really worried about how long HIV can live outside the body. Like, if someone with HIV accidentally gets a drop of blood on a chair or table, is it still dangerous if I touch that same spot after 30 minutes? Can the virus still be active?

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