Download FREE Practo app
Get ₹200 HealthCash
What to do after touching someone blood?
I touched the blood of an unknown person with my palm (on intact skin). I washed my palm with soap. I know that HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are killed by soap. However, I am eating food with my palm only after washing, but what about pathogens that soap can't kill? Have I orally ingested them?
For example, prions like variant CJD (vCJD) terrify me. Will I get vCJD prions while eating with the same palm? Prions cannot be killed, and once contracted, there is no cure—only fatal death.
Please help me out. Are there more such fatal diseases that soap can't kill? Have I contracted them?
As a doctor, you might have yourself or have patients who have touched, come into contact with, or even been injured (e.g., needlestick) by the blood of unknown individuals. Did you also think of contracting vCJD prion disease? Then, as per guidelines, what medical conditions did you test or check for?
Please clarify: Will I get vCJD prion disease or any other fatal disease? Please help me out.
Answers (41)
Get your queries answered instantly with Care AI FREE
20000+ health queries resolved in last month
if you would like to know more details about this problem, you can reach me for a free detailed consultation on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Didn't find the answer you are looking for?
Talk to experienced doctor online and get your health questions answered in just 5 minutes.
+125
You're safe. Just don't overthink.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
No risk
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
No issues sir...
Nothing to worry...
Since u have washed with soap ..no need of fear
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Touching blood on intact skin and then washing with soap poses no risk of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or prion diseases like vCJD.
Prions are not transmitted this way, and there are no fatal infections you could have contracted from such contact.
✅ You are safe. No testing or treatment is required.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Hello
Do not worry..you have washed your hands and thats enough..there is no risk since ur skin was intact
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Yes ur right it's common for us too , but if the skin is intact and u have washed it thoroughly before doing anything nothing to worry about,relax.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
If you don’t have any injury already to the hand,nothing going to be happen.Bz skin is the primary physical barrier.Feel free
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
No need to worry hand wash with soap is sufficient.
Since its an intact skin you need not to take any measures.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Need few more details for proper understanding of your issue.
You can consult with me online on Practo or whatsapp on eight three one eight four six nine eight eight six for proper diagnosis, conclusion and management
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Washing your hand with soap and liquid handwash or applying sanitizer is enough and you should not feel panic as our skin plays a protective shield which covers all our internal tissues and vCJD prion disease is also not much common in our area.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Don't be anxious, it's totally okay as contact was made with intact skin and moreover u cleaned it thoroughly with soap, I don't think cjd is so common out here , so I think no need to get anxious regarding this
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Hand washing for 15 min in running water is sufficient
Since ur skin was intact
No risk of cjd prion disease in this manner of contact
Next Steps
get it vaccinated for hbsag if nt yet done
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Connect
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Hand wash with soap is sufficient enough. Don't worry much and stop googling about CJD.
Next Steps
Follow up on HHH status of the patient (HepB, HepC, HIV). if still unknown since it's contact on intact skin, nothing more to be done. only pricks need Post exposure prophylaxis
Health Tips
if you are helping someone in need by letting their blood get in contact to yours, kudos to you. just make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap after that (supposing you learnt hand wash in COVID time)
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
You can stop eating with your hands. I can't even recommend you to eat with a knife and fork and spoon because they may also have patogens.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
You can consult me directly on Practo, or reach out via WhatsApp:
Eight Seven Six Two Seven Four Nine Nine Seven Four
I’ll guide you step-by-step with easy-to-follow treatment plans.
Early consultation helps avoid complications — feel free to connect.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Kindly place your hand under running water for 10 mins. There is nothing to worry about conjuring viral infections as long as your skin is intact at the point of contact with blood.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Please don’t worry, you are safe. Diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, and C do not spread through intact skin contact, and prion diseases such as vCJD are not transmitted this way at all. Washing with soap was more than enough. Even in medical settings, such contact is not considered a risk exposure. You have not contracted vCJD or any other fatal infection from this incident.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
If no cut or abrasion on your hands, you are safe.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Hello, I understand your concern. Let me clarify this for you:
HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C do not spread by touching blood on intact skin. They require entry through cuts, mucous membranes, or needlestick injuries. Washing with soap is sufficient and protective.
Prions (vCJD) are not transmitted this way. They are extremely rare worldwide, and transmission happens mainly through contaminated brain tissue, spinal tissue, or eating infected animal products—not through casual blood contact or eating with washed hands.
Next Steps
Soap and thorough washing already remove the common pathogens. For day-to-day exposures like what you described, there is no medical guideline recommending tests or treatment, because the risk is essentially zero.
Health Tips
If anxiety about infection keeps troubling you, do let me know—we can also talk about ways to manage health anxiety.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Need few more details
Kindly consult
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Transmission through oral route is negligible.
Don't worry much and panic.
Kindly sanitize ur hands and maintain proper hygiene.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
The risk of transfer through oral route is negligible in case of hiv, hbv and hcv. If you are still worried, follow the complete hand hygiene techniques and use a sanitizer
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Internet search. Use spoon or hand gloves.
Best is senetizer.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Don't worry. The risk of transmission is negligible in your case. In case of doubts kindly connect.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Hello,
For Medical Diagnosis and Treatment please pay and consult at practo or pay and consult at WhatsApp.
My WhatsApp number is same as my mobile number . My WhatsApp number is +91959508739nine.
Take a glass of milk daily.
Thanks.
Dr☆MPB ,
Dr Praful Mahamuni,
Family Doctor,
MBBS , DM .
Jai hind. 🇮🇳
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
No not at all don't think much and don't take stress....
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
First of all don't think too much. You are taking precautions which is good.
Precautions is better than cure. And you are taking it.
And for prion disease it's transmitted by consumption of contaminated meat, medical procedures involving contaminated instruments, and in rare cases organ or tissue transplants.
Next Steps
don't think too much. whenever you feel anxious just consult with nearest Doctor.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Izma Saiyad
General Physician
Vadodara
Since you have touched the blood with intact skin which act as a barrier there’s no risk of pathogen coming in your blood.Apart from that vCJD has very low potential of transmission by blood.So no need to worry.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Nothing risk
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Janhavi Pardeshi
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Pune
As mentioned the skin was intact so their no need to worry
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. V R Tindwani
Family Physician
51 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
Relax completely soap may not kill some virus but water and soap can physically remove virus from your hands and can clean the hand of virus and all dirts etc so no issues we have to touch blood at many instances and never any issues
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Mohd Saqib Manhas
General Physician
1 yrs exp
Jammu
Until unless the patient is normal or there are no cut wounds on the skin there is no risk for infection transmission.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Harshith M A
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
As long as a contaminated needle is not pricked into your skin and also disinfection with soap , the chances you getting an infection is very very low. Chillax
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Syeda Farheen
General Physician
2 yrs exp
Bangalore
Its quite understandle that one might have anxiety after such an incident.
Be rest assured since you've washed properly.
Next Steps
do not overthink about it.
Health Tips
take care of your immunity, even if something was there , let your immunity handle it.
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhansi
Avoid fried food and spicy food
Water intake more
Green leafy vegetables and fruits
Do connect and consult
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
If intact skin
Pls don’t worry
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
As the skin was intact and you have washed your hand with soap, there is no risk.
Next Steps
For your peace of mind do a HHH test after 7 days
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Dr. Kamlesh Kalsariya
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
Hand wash
Answered
Flag this answer
Let others know if this answer was helpful
Was this answer helpful?
YES
NO
Articles you may like
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
The question asked on this page is a free question. You can ask a free health question by downloading the Practo app.
Articles you may like
Tell us what's troubling you
Tell us what's troubling you
Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.