Catching Hepatitis C from a swimming pool

[bethbruyn]

My Niece refuses to let my nephew swim in our pool, because she thinks that he will catch Hepatitis C from my husband. Is there even a 1% chance this can happen?

[Victimeofhepc]

I have hep c.  I have three grown kids and six grand babies. I would rather die then transmit this disease to them.  I am taking the cure for hep c harvoni.  The side effects are excruciating painful. My daughter is a lot like your niece.  My hep c , family doctor, nurse practitioner and social worker talk to her to ease her mind and nothing helps. I have been swimming in their pool since they moved in three years ago but now they think they can catch hep c through swimming in the same pool as me.  I have never been so heart broken in my life.  Sometimes I feel like this treatment is killing me.  I would die happily before spreading this to my grandkids and kids.  You think it scary thinking you might catch it , try living with the fact that you might give it to your loved ones.  Stop being so uneducated and listen to the professionals.  It is a miracle I haven't killed myself with all the stigma surrounding this issue.  If you could catch it that easy I'm sure everyone would have it.  Have you ever went in a public pool??

[flyinlynn]

Hi 6 year old post so likely all the original commenters have moved on.

Sorry you are having a difficult time with treatment hopefully you are only treating for 12 weeks with one of the new DAA's and be able to put hep c behind you.

Good luck

[Victimeofhepc]

Hi Flyinlynn, thanks for your reply.  I had harvoni for eight weeks and now the virus is undetectable.  So I'm cured but still having withdrawals from the harvoni.  My doctors found three tumours in my lungs now, going for scan on Tuesday, I hope it's nothing.  Good luck and thank you

[rager11]

I agree.  My mother has Hep C.  I am concerned about swimming in her pool because she also has diabetes and tends to have scratches and sores unhealed.  If my son has a cut or abrasion on his legs, does this not open the window of opportunity?  I don't think this is as black & white as people paint the picture.

[curiouslady1]

HepC is transmitted most usually through intravenous drug use or blood transfusion.  Occasionally it may be transmitted through sexual contact but probably when there is some open wound.  Ths is not HIV where there are cases of health professionals immediately cutting off their finger when they accidentally get a puncture while working with infected blood.  It is just not that infectious.  The possibility of getting a virus while swimming in the same pool with someone is pretty remote.  Of course, if your nephew and husband decided to share a needle of heroin at the bottom of the pool, there would be a decided risk.  However, your neice may be concerned more about her son ? husband? being contaminated in other ways by your family.  

[mg435]

I like what you wrote.  I also read that chlorine and bleach will not kill Hep C.  So, I'm still uncertain about the swimming pools.  Say someone has an open wound from poison ivy and another person had a cut and blood entereded the pool, couldn't hep c blood enter that open wound?  Just trying to be educated on this matter.

[spectda]

Can you imagine how many people would have it if you could get it from a pool! The drug companies would be chomping at the bit for that business! Maybe we would get a cure quicker! (just kidding of course)

[mj6000]

Your niece has some paranoia problems.

[JennyPenny2009]

It must be painful to live with the kind of fear that your niece lives with. Her reasons lead me to believe that no amount of facts would relieve her phobia. I hope she does not pass that on to her child.

[tashka]

No, it is ABSOLUTELY impossible to get hepatitis C in this way.

What you describe is the reason that we didn't tell anybody, including family members, about my husband's diagnosis of hepatitis C. He can swim in the pools and hug his relatives without being subjected to ignorance. Please, be very selective about who you tell. As long as you know that you are not putting anyone in danger of getting this disease, there is no reason for anyone to know this sensitive information.

[yodennis]

When I read a question such as this catalyzed by a reaction such as you describe I become almost embarrassed being a human being. Why (and I realize this is a rhetorical question and may be attacked as impatient and judgmental) in this time of abundant factual information available in seconds via a computer would this question be asked when one could get the facts- print them out- and present them to the ignorant party?

[Rockerforlife]

a full grown bull can weigh in at 3000 lbs,no lie

[sendittozach]

Hi,

I'm no expert, but, I found out that I myself may be infected with Hepititis C. There is ALOT of stigma that comes with this virus. First off, It is a blood-born pathogen. Meaning, that is is only tranferred via my blood touching your blood. (aka i have a nose bleed and you clean it up and you have an open sore on your hand and some gets on it).

Now, knowing that and the fact that most swimming pools are chlorinated, I would assume that risk of infection is so so so so small, that youde have a better chance lifting a fully grown bull elephant with your pinky. Also, Check out Wikipedia, it has a very informative pages on Hep C.

[Rockerforlife]

Not in a million years,you have better odds at winning 5 powerball lotterys in a row and be struck by a thunder bolt

[djbn13]

I hope I'm not being to cruel but that's a heartless thing your niece is doing.  I'm sure you and your husband have enough to deal with.  Your niece needs to educate herself before making comments.

[spectda]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!