If you forget to put a condom or it breaks, if you are wounded or cut with a blood stained item, if you have shared IV drug equipment, there are treatments (emergency treatments – post-exposure treatments) that can prevent you from being infected by HIV.

 

• Be quick to react !  Within hours, in any case less than 48 hours after taking a risk. Past this period, no treatment can eliminate the virus in case of infection.

 

• Get in touch with the nearest hospital : go to the emergency department and tell them you had an accidental exposure to HIV. If you can, it is better to go consulting with your partner.

• If there really is a risk of infection, the doctor who will see you will prescribe you a four-weeks treatment.

 

These medicines are delivered from the hospital’s pharmacy; they are free. They are the same medicines as those taken by persons infected with HIV. They are generally well endured, but can have undesirable effects. Tell the doctor if you are already following another treatment or have an hepatitis.