A USED syringe was found by a six-year-old girl in her school playground during her lunchtime break.
Ellena Sowden, a Year 2 pupil at The Parks Academy, in Courtway Road, Orchard Park, had been playing with friends near bushes next to a fence.
It is not believed the needle punctured Ellena's skin, but staff at Hull Royal Infirmary warn symptoms of infection may take weeks to surface.
Her mother Kerry Tibble, 43, said: "I am disgusted that could have happened.
"Whoever has thrown this syringe into a school playground is utterly heartless.
"My daughter knows about the dangers of scissors and knives – not needles.
"I didn't think I needed to speak to my six-year-old daughter about needles."
It happened during Ellena's lunch break last Wednesday.
Ms Tibble, of Ilthorpe, Orchard Park, said: "I had a phone call from the school.
"I was told Ellena had been found with a syringe but she had not touched the bottom of it. I was told she could not have had it long and that it had quickly been taken off her.
"The school told me they had checked her over and there were no puncture marks. They had washed her hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water."
However, Ms Tibble claims her daughter gave her a different version of events and believes Ellena did touch the sharp end of the dirty syringe.
She said: "Ellena told me on the way home that she had found a syringe.
"She is really into snails at the minute and told me she and her friends had been picking some leaves from a bush to feed to them.
"She demonstrated to me how she had held the syringe. It looks as though she had held the bottom part of the syringe with her right hand, while holding the top with her left.
"It is clear to me from her actions that she definitely had contact with the sharp end of the syringe."
Ms Tibble, after receiving the phone call from the school, had made an urgent appointment for her daughter at Orchard Park Health Centre.
"I was glad I had made the appointment after what Ellena told me on the way home," said Ms Tibble. "The doctor told me the risk of having picked up an infection such as HIV or hepatitis was small, but she referred us to Hull Royal Infirmary."
Hospital staff did not perform a blood test on Ellena, due to the absence of a puncture wound.
"They told me to keep an eye on her and contact them if she became unwell," said Ms Tibble. "I was told symptoms of infection could take two to three months to show.
"We obviously have that hanging over us now."
Ms Tibble says she has been told by the school that the playground is checked daily for potential dangers.
In a statement, Dave Waterson, executive principal of The Parks Academy, said: "We take safety very seriously.
"We have done everything we can to ensure the academy grounds remain safe.
"The academy grounds were checked on that morning. It appears a syringe may have been thrown into the bushes from a member of the public after that check had taken place.
"Staff here at the academy have done everything within their power to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the students.
"Following the incident, the head of the academy, David Irving, spoke to all the children about staying safe, reminding them not to pick litter up from the floor."
