Sage-Tips

Can HIV transmit through a scratch?

We conclude that this viremic AIDS patient, while producing copious amounts of body fluids, failed to infect those caring for him through bites and scratches. The risk of transmission of HIV through this route under similar conditions should be low.

How easy is it to get HIV through a cut?

Transmission can occur when there is contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and blood or body fluids mixed with the blood of a person who has HIV. There is no risk of transmission if the skin is not broken.

Can you catch something from a scratch?

If the integrity of the skin is not broken from the scratch, and there is no access to the bloodstream, then there would not be a risk of infection. If someone scratches you, but you are not exposed to their blood, semen, etc., you would not be at risk of infection, even if the scratch broke the skin.

What should you do if someone scratches you?

Cuts, Scratches and Scrapes – Treatment:

1. Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding.
2. Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes.
3. Caution: Never soak a wound that might need sutures.
4. Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
5. Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin).

What happens after you get a scratch?

After getting a cut, scratch, or abrasion, your skin may start bleeding. This happens because the injury breaks or tears the tiny blood vessels, which are right under the skin’s surface. Your body wants to stop the bleeding so the platelets (say: PLAYT-litz) in your blood come to the rescue.

Can you get an infection if someone scratches you?

Sometimes, a cut, scratch, or scrape starts out as no big deal, but then gets infected. A skin infection happens when germs get into the skin. If you notice any of these signs of infection, call your doctor right away: redness around the cut.

Can you get diseases from someone scratching you?

What diseases can you get from human scratches?

Here are five diseases than can be spread from bites:

• Infections. Human mouths contain high levels of bacteria, especially of the variety that can infect human tissues.
• Hepatitis B and C. Both of these viruses, but especially Hep B, can come from a bite.
• HIV.
• Herpes.
• Rabies.