Can a person get AIDS from cutting?
It is possible to get the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS) from sharing cutting instruments — such as a needle or knife — that might have the virus on them. The virus that causes hepatitis also can be spread through cutting.
Many other dangers apply to cutting, too. Cutting can become a habit for some people — it can seem like an addiction that they can't stop. Cuts can be deeper than intended, cause scars, or become infected.
Cutting is usually a sign that someone has deep emotional troubles that he or she doesn't have the skills to deal with in a healthy way. That's why it's important to get help overcoming the urge to cut and the underlying problems that bring it on.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: January 2012
* Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
|SAFE-Alternatives.com This website is dedicated to ending self-abuse and offers resources and information.|
|American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) This nonprofit organization is dedicated to the support of AIDS research, prevention, treatment education, and advocacy.|
|Aids.gov Information and resources on HIV/AIDS in the United States.|
|National HIV Testing Resources Answers to frequently asked questions about AIDS testing and information on finding an HIV testing site near you.|
|Teens Talk About Cutting We get lots of emails about our cutting articles. Because many of our readers' suggestions and comments are so helpful, we decided to put a few on our site.|
|HIV and AIDS There is no cure for AIDS, which is why prevention is so important. Get the facts on HIV/AIDS, as well as how it affects the body and is treated, in this article.|
|HIV Testing Resources Often the only way to know if someone is infected with HIV is through testing. Here are the facts on what's involved in getting tested — and who should get tested for HIV and why.|
|How Do People Get AIDS? AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a disease where the body is unable to fight off many infectious diseases as it normally could. Find out how AIDS is spread and how to protect yourself against it.|
|How Can I Stop Cutting? If you've been cutting and you want to stop, here are some approaches that might help you.|
|Cutting It can be hard to understand, but people who cut themselves sometimes do it because it actually makes them feel better. They are overflowing with emotions - like sadness, depression, or anger - that they have trouble expressing.|
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