Canada
A 24-year-old male asked:
someone scratched my hand with their nails by accident.the scratch was pretty deep and was bleeding alot.is there a chance they passed on diseases?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Vythilingam Alagappananswered
Bariatrics 39 years experience
Depends on the clean: If under their nail bed if there is a lot of dirt it can be transmitted and cause infection.may need an updated tetanus shot also
978 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Laura Anissiananswered
Internal Medicine 21 years experience
Highly unlikely: If you washed hand after, a local Ann infection risk is very low. Redness, swelling and pus are signs of infection.
978 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Julie Abbottanswered
Preventive Medicine 45 years experience
Possibly: Of course you couldn't be infected by a blood-borne pathogen/infection--such as hepatitis or HIV--because there is no blood to transmit it in the fingernails. Perhaps you might get an infection if the fingernails were very dirty and carrying disease causing bacteria on them. Washing very well with anti-bacterial soap should have prevented that. Hope you are doing well.
972 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Sep 19, 2016
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