Is it safe to share used cocaine-snorting devices?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I went through your query and understood your concern.

According to your statement, you have a history of sharing snorting devices for cocaine and other drugs. For people who use drugs, hepatitis C can be passed by sharing straws or rolled paper and also by sharing stems or pipes for smoking or injections.

Intranasal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) via contaminated drug-sniffing implements is a potential but unconfirmed source of viral infection. The virological plausibility of intranasal transmission by confirming that blood and HCV RNA are present in the nasal secretions and drug-sniffing implements of HCV-infected intranasal drug users recruited from a community health clinic in New York City has been demonstrated by researchers.

The theory of hepatitis C transmission through the nasal route is that frequent or long-term sniffing or snorting of drugs such as cocaine can cause damage and bleeding in the nasal passage. Straws or banknotes that are inserted in the nose could come into contact with hepatitis C-infected blood or mucus, which may then be transmitted to someone else sharing the same straw.

Using snorting devices for cocaine inhalation cannot be calculated exactly, but it is dangerous, and all the research papers have suggested that.

So, my opinion is to do a blood test for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV. Also, a nasal swab test should be done for the presence of hepatitis C. Nasal bleeding may result from dryness while using cocaine intranasally.

Hope I have answered your questions.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Researchers have done their research to target some people, like homosexual people who are using drugs and some people who use drugs intranasally by using snorting devices like you. Sharing snorting devices for taking drugs intranasally will increase the chances of transmission of hepatitis C. It will be four to five percent more than those who do not share snorting devices. However, it is not confirmed that people suffered from hepatitis C after sharing used snorting devices. Hepatitis C is transmitted through an intravenous route.

But today's world has shown that hepatitis C can be transmitted intranasally if someone shares snorting devices as snorting devices can cause damage and bleeding in the nasal passage, and if it happens in the case of a hepatitis C infected person, then the snorting devices can come into contact with hepatitis C infected blood or mucus. These snorting devices can spread the hepatitis C virus to other people if they use the snorting devices that are already mixed with Hepatitis C infected blood or mucus.

If no Hepatitis C-infected person used the snorting devices that were used by you, then there is no chance of transmission. I have suggested some investigations that will confirm everything and negative results will relieve you of present and upcoming anxieties.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and regards.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I went through your reports (the attachments removed to protect the patient's identity).

You have red, circular, and small spots on your penis shaft. Such types of red, circular, and small spots or dots can result from poor hygiene or clogged skin pores due to allergy, irritation or infection, razor burn during shaving, frictions, heat rash, medications, and many more.

To me, it does not look like a rash due to any sexually transmitted infections. Such a type of rash usually is not serious and goes away over time without any treatment. So, I suggest it will go away on its own. You can maintain personal hygiene by wearing loose clothes to avoid any further irritation or friction.

Hope I have answered your question.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have already mentioned that such type of small red spots are not serious and will go away over time without any treatment on their own. The most important thing is such a type of red spot can occur on anybody's top of the penis, glans penis, shaft of the penis, or anywhere.

I have already mentioned the causes of their development. I have also mentioned that such type of small red spot does not need any treatment and goes away over time on its own. You can undergo STD panel investigations if you are still anxious. Negative results will remove your anxiety.

Take care.

Hope I have answered your questions.

Thank you.