What kind of world do we live in?! :(

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Tonight my lil niece picked up a sock outside her house, which was filled with druggy used needles and she pricked herself.

My sister has been at hospital as Paige has had tests for hiv, hepb, hep c & a hep b vaccination.

They wont know for 4-5 months if she's got anything.

She's SIX.

What kind of fucking world is it that this could happen - that people so blinded by their own stupid mutant addiction could leave their live mess as waste for innocents to potentially destory their lives by.

she's a child, so full of fun, everything to live for.

Breaks my heart beyond words and i've yet to stop crying.

[ElvisGuy]

Lunar..Im so sad and angered to hear this. Please keep us informed on how your niece is doing.

[Jack Zodiac]

It's sick, but it happens a lot. My girlfriend's brother worked at this Starbucks downtown and almost pricked himself on a heroin needle in the bathroom trashcan. Junkies don't give a shit about other people, and they rarely if ever think about others when they throw their crap away, either on the street or in a store or any garbage can.

I hope your niece is okay, because that's the most disgusting way for some deadbeat rash on society's ass to destroy a life.

[Lester C.]

My prayers go out to you and your family Lunar.

[heystacy]

Many well-wishes to your family. I am saddend and angered by this also.

[The Beast Of Yucca Flats]

Hope the kid's okay, is all.

[siviusx]

I'm terribly sorry and sad to hear about this, and am hoping that things will turn out okay. Best wishes to your entire family.

[WhiteRose]

Jesus, that's horrible. I'll also be putting you and yours in my prayers, fella.

[Jeff Brady]

I'm sorry to hear about this, buddy. I hope she's well.

[Cam63]

My condolences too, LD and I wish your neice well.

[TomStillwell]

I'll keep you all in my prayers.

[Sharpandpointies]

More prayers, to be sure. :( I'm terribly sorry to hear this.

Regrettably, this is the only world we have. No wonder people like to read comics.

Even more regrettably, despite the fact that it is the only world we have, too many people (such as whomever dumped that needle) seem dedicated to making it worse.

[ChthonicSpirit]

What kind of world? I don't know anyone who can answer that. Between stories like this one and what that worthless shit just did to those Amish girls in Pennsylvania, I just . . . Christ.

I hope the kid's okay. I would recommend that she be put on a preventative drug therapy against HIV infection.

[Damo]

Whoah, back up.

Are they giving her prophylactic meds? When there's concern that a health worker has been exposed to a HIV/AIDS infection it's normal to give a very nasty regimen of drugs that has an excellent chance of preventing any infection from taking hold. I don't know what the procedure is for being pricked with a needle from an unknown source, but "prophylactic drugs" is definitely something to ask about.

[Arawn]

A couple of things,

1) the drugs aren't that nasty anymore. There are dosens and dosens so even if she needed some, they'd find ones with little to no side effects.

2) HIV isn't the kill all it was 20 years ago. The average life expectancy of someone diagnosed early in the infection stage is 50+ years. When I was first infected they said 3-5 and 8 if you're lucky.

Does it suck, yes. But it isn't the terror it was, and it's controllable.

[the4thpip]

I'm so sorry, Lunie.
We have a project here in town called "clean streets" were reformed junkies as part of their therapy have to clean up playgrounds and such. When they're not high all the time anymore, they are really shocked that people leave needles in playgrounds.

[Weetomuncher]

I hope Lunar's niece is OK.

I can't stand junkies. They totally ruined my old hometown and brought nothing but misery.

If it was up to me I'd execute them.

[MartinRedmond]

I hope your niece is tests negative to any decease. It would be cool if there's a police investigation about this and the culprit gets killed.

[MartinRedmond]

I'm so sorry, Lunie.
We have a project here in town called "clean streets" were reformed junkies as part of their therapy have to clean up playgrounds and such. When they're not high all the time anymore, they are really shocked that people leave needles in playgrounds.

I think that kind of thing is really awesome.

[SoulOnIce]

Horrible.

My wife is an infection control practitioner and she says the risk is very low for transmission. HIV especially dies pretty quickly outside of the human body.

Someone mentioned prophylactic meds and I assume and hope the hospital administered these.

She will most likely be OK but I will say a prayer for her.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes and advice, it means the world.

I spoke to my sis today and got her giggling again amidst every distraction and crap joke I could find ... and promised nieces that unca steven (thats me) would come round and play monster chase with them - which apprently brightened them up no end..and instead of talking about hospital stuff they're apparently dead excited because im coming round and am gonna play monster chase. ^_^

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Have just asked my sister about the prophyllactic meds.. she wasnt sure, said she had an injection yesterday and has to go back in four weeks, then four after that... that sound about right?

[ChthonicSpirit]

Have just asked my sister about the prophyllactic meds.. she wasnt sure, said she had an injection yesterday and has to go back in four weeks, then four after that... that sound about right?

Healthcare workers with accidental needle-stick injuries tend to be given Lamivudine, Zidovudine, and either a protease inhibitor or a reverse-transcriptase blocker. These appear to be daily medications, from what I've read in the literature, so I don't think they're what she got. There is another drug called Nevirapine, which is used to prevent mother-to child transmission during birth, and it is given as a single dose. That sounds more likely. Anyway, talk to your doctor, ask what he gave her, make sure.

[The Xenos]

Oh dear God. What does one say to that? Reallys gives one chills and chokes you up. May God or whatever you call the goodness of this universe smile upon that innocent little girl and have her check out fine. I'm sure you have the prayers and well wishes or everyone who read that horrible story.

Oh and dear God, what your whole family must be going through. I don't know what solace to offer, but I hope they can find some.