Manicures/ Asian Manicurist

[fashion345]

I have not posted in a some time, however, keep in touch with everyone's blogs and appreciate all info.  I am gen type 2B with viral is 123,000.  Made a decision to treat in April as I am dealing with a terminally ill parent right now.  
I just returned from a manicure/ped which I have had for years.  The manicurist was casually conversing with me when she mentioned her father, who died of liver cancer and resided in Viet Nam.  She proceeded to tell me that her father had the "Virus B & C" and I confirmed she meant Hep B and C.  She continued to state that many people in Viet Nam have Hep C.  Since I am not sure where I contracted  Hep C, is it possible it could have come from one of my 100's of man/peds over the last 20 years?  
Does anyone have any info about this??
Thank you!!
J

[pigeonca]

Estimates of the percentage of those infected with hcv for no known reason range from 5% to 30%, depending on which journal article you read.  As one who got the disease despite having none of the usual risk factors, I figure a manicure might easily be a possible cause, along with medical and dental work, the hairdresser who nicked me while shaving the back of my neck, or an accident with a shared tool at work.  The virus can live in dried blood for up to four days.

[fashion345]

Wow, I never realized this and glad that I am not alone in my conclusions.  Thank you everyone for the validation.

[IMstacie]

When I found out I had contracted hep C, prior to tx, I was sent to a class.  The instructor stated Hep B & C ran rapid in the nail salons and many of the sterilization processes were not adequate.  One of the reasons was just what you stated, "many people in Viet Nam have Hep C."  I haven't had my nails done since but if I do I will take my own tools.  I used to take my granddaughter with me!  

[bebj]

I think it is possible cause someone I know did contract Hep C that way.  She had donated a kidney in 1992, given blood in 2000 - everything okay.  Started feeling bad in 2002 - tested positive.  Husband did not have it, she never drank or did drugs or have a tatoo - only manacures.  Did not have to have treatment as her body fought it off.

[Marcia2202]

It's possible.

A good friend of mine used to be a blood donor and donated every 6 months. One day he got a letter from the red cross that he had tested pos for HCV.

His doctors were speechless. The only places he could have been infected were the barber or the dentist.

[fashion345]

Thank you, great suggestion.
I also want to be clear to everyone on this site that it is not my intention to infer that there is a relation between Vietnamese salons and hep c.  I have always wondered if the frequency of my man/ped could have been the scource of my infection.

[JennyPenny]

There is always the possibility that dried blood on manicurist tools could, if you were cut, transmit the virus. But, that does not happen too often. If you get regular manicures you might want to buy your own tools and have the manicurist use only them on you.