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Human Bite Risk

Sunday, I was jumped at a bar, and to free myself, I tried to bite the individual holding me on the ground, I didn't succeed and felt then I might've been bitten on my ear, though there's no open wound or scabbing, just a red mark. My ears are both swollen, though I feel thats from being punched. Would my skin have to have been completely broken, bleeding, for me to experience a risk?
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Avatar universal
A pcr, qualitative, test is the most sensitive test for Hcv and is reliable for virus detection two weeks after exposure.

Antibody testing reliability increases as the number of days increases since exposure.  50 days is a good indication.  3 months is VERY reliable and 6 months is definite.

Pcr testing is expensive, $400 or so, antibody testing is not, maybe $59 or so.

I would say you have NO risk from the incident you described.  In all honesty, i would not waste the time or money on testing.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A wonderful hepatologist in Miami (U of M) once told me that-
he could take my blood and inject it into his stomach and he would NOT get HCV.
Hope that relieves some of your worry...
enigma
Helpful - 0
264121 tn?1313029456
Honestly, I think you're in very little danger from the bar thing.  And no, the scratches would be even less likely unless again, he broke the skin and he was also bleeding.  But.  I still agree with everyone who has said that people should, at intervals, be tested.  

I don't know if the health dept in your area gives free or reduced tests but I'd certainly call them and check it out since you don't have insurance.  The blood bank, does notify people, I believe, but I don't know how long after or what the method of notification is.  If you're really hard up I guess you could always just apply for then cancel a huge amount of term life insurance lol - those guys will definitely let you know if you don't pass the bloodwork.  

But. Again about the bar thing.  Unless you guys had the fight and then you both decided to slash your thumbs and become blood brothers with each other, I think you're fine.  But get tested anyway.  Because its a good thing to do.  And because you hang out in bars in philly.  ;)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've examined myself thoroughly, not one bite mark, or wound. How about scratches? I have three scratches on my neck, to my knowledge, the person's hitting me hands weren't bleeding, and now the scratches are scabbed over, any risk in that? Also I forgot to mention that I gave blood last year, and I'm sure with their extensive testing, would've picked something up prior to this. But what if I decide to give blood in the near future, would they immediately inform you of the tests? Says they test blood "within 18 hours."

PS - I won't hang in that bar again ;P
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Would an HCV PCR test, which can detect acute infections from recent exposures, as soon as 1-2 weeks be fine? Seeing as this was a low risk incident?
Helpful - 0
150807 tn?1194955315
Damn what kinda bars you hang in? lmao
Helpful - 0
264121 tn?1313029456
the research says that the chance is 80 - 90 percent given the genotype of clearing the virus if you start treatment in this window of six months after exposure.  unfortunately, very few people know they are infected until years later.  I know when I was exposed and I had bloodwork testing negative going back a solid couple years prior to my positive tests so hey, if my doctor's office ever gets my freakin' medicine to me I'll still be in the window.
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Avatar universal
Just to be situational, if Hepatitis-C is caught in the early stages, hasn't there lately been ways to actually clear/cure it from the body?
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
I think you pretty much answered your own question, it's a long shot, to be sure, but you do sound like the anxious type (a fellow traveler>) and you'd probably be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't get tested, cause it could maybe work on your mind....like I said, I think all people should be tested....just to be sure...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks all. I appreciate the feedback. Though I suffer from severe cases of hypochondria and anxiety, I will take the test, but I hope and feel like I have nothing to worry about in regards to the bar exposure. As you've all told me. I do not have health insurance at this time unfortunately, but I'd be more then willing to take a test, at a low cost, just to relieve any questions I might have that linger. I know, and I tell my friends to never have unprotected sex, as well as IV drug use, and to make sure when getting a tattoo, make sure the needle is sterilized in front of them. The reason I came was to get an opinion this current risk, and hopefully as many of you said, it's a very very low risk, so my mind can be at ease, instead of driving myself insane for 6-8 weeks. But as with your encouragement to it seems everyone to get a test, I will. But I hope that you're not saying this because you believe my experience regulated an immediate panic situation, that requires immediate testing..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hep C is transmitted blood to blood, not saliva to skin. And, of course, the person biting you would have to be infected with Hepatitis C. So unless the person had Hep C, AND there was blood in the person's saliva AND your skin was broken, there would be no possiblity of transmission. By all means get tested if you want, but I can't see this incident as having any risk.

That said, human bites do have their risks as you can read here:
http://tinyurl.com/2934ey    However, what you describe sounds more like a nibble than bite.

-- Jim
Helpful - 0
276730 tn?1327962946
My opinion is that I believe everyone should be tested. I also believe that when going in for an

annual check physicians should test for HCV automatically. But they DONT.

Be on the safe side and be tested. Its for your benefit. Awareness is where its at!

good luck
and no more bar room brawls!
be good
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
I agree with Debnevada, it's no big deal to get the test, I know for some people it's freaky to get tested, they'd almost rather not, only so they can avoid the whole "unpleasant" experience...

but not every dentist or even doc or labs person is up to snuff in terms of being antiseptic, don't assume they all are...just get tested...that way you won't have it hovering in the back of your mind, as these thoughts are wont to do...
Helpful - 0
186606 tn?1263510190
Rob, if you feel comfortable, that's great....HOWEVER, if you want to pay the hep forum back,
EDUCATE YOUR FRIENDS AND YOURSELF.

There are tons of folks on here who have no idea how they got it and tons who didn't get it from high risk behavior.

It never hurts to get the test anyway. Do it and tell your friends to do it too.

Most folks on here didn't know they had it until decades later.  If you care to read through archives, you'll see what result that brings.

I think the test should be given much more often than it is.

Deb, crawling off her soapbox....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've only had sex with one person in a monogamous relationship, then protected sex with another. Never been to a tattoo parlor myself either and the only dental procedures I've had were routine cleaning's and cavity fillings. So right now, seeing as it didn't break the skin (and I'm sure I'd have notice if it did), I feel comfortable assuming the risk wasn't there.
Helpful - 0
144210 tn?1273088782
Forseegood jarred me into reality. You absolutely need to get tested. Not so much due to the fight, but because of other high risk behaviors. Of course, I don't know if you actually have high risk behaviours..... but.... whenever I got into a bar fight (more than 1); I seem to remember also doing some seriously high risk activities. In fact....all of em!  So, if this sounds like you, run don't walk to your doc.
Helpful - 0
264121 tn?1313029456
if it didn't break the skin then there isn't a way it could have been passed unless you had an open wound on your arm.  Even then, bigger problems to worry about would be an actual infection from bite itself since the human mouth is not the cleanest of places.  Reminds me, when I was 19 I got bit by a girl in a treatment facility where I worked at the time, but we were able, in such events, to have the nurse check the patient's records for hep and HIV and she was negative.  Big relief.  I had a mouth shaped scar with tooth impressions on my forearm for two or three years before it finally faded.  It was a great conversation opener.  

I agree that its always a good idea to get the hep panel anyway, but if you want to include your little bar party in with the rest of the risk factors I'd wait about 6-8 weeks out.
Helpful - 0
86075 tn?1238115091
wow, can't say that I've seen a good ole bar fight in years and years, but it did bring back fond memories :)

Personally, I think everyone should be tested, regardless of the risk(s) they think they might have undergone.....getting tested for Hep c and HIV is relatively easy now, and inexpensive, you can find some places that will do it for free, or for a very nominal fee....

Course, if youre a virgin, and went straight from Catholic School into a nunnery, with very few dealings with other people and have never been to a tattoo parlor or nail salon...and have never had any hospital procedures or dental visits, I'd say you're pretty much exempt, and don't need to be tested...

Yet I fall into this category, and low and behold, got this creepy disease anyway, why I oughta....(sorry for the sick humor, it helps sustain me I'm afraid) all and all, this is a blood borne disease that has mostly to do with exchange of blood from person to person, via instruments, whatever...I agree with my friend Gauf here, you're risk sounds really like a big long shot, but I'd go get tested anyway just to be sure....

This very good autobiography by the actor Errol Flynn (that's probably at least 1/2 fiction cause he was mostly half in the bag since he was a kid, or so he says, "My Wicked, Wicked Ways") tells of him being in a fist fight on a yacht out to see, and this guy bit him really hard on the arm, and he almost lost his arm cause it took him so long to get to the hospital, that the human bite is the most germy of all bites.......but like I said, he was always half in the bag, so maybe it didn't happen at all:)....
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Avatar universal
Thanks gauf. What is the window period for testing/conclusive result period? I also believe, in High School we were vaccinated for Hep-B, if that makes much difference. And in this case, is testing recommended?
Helpful - 0
144210 tn?1273088782
Your risk is a real longshot. But you can always get tested. I think staying out of the bar is the best way to avoid health issues.



Just my 2 cents and worth every penny
Helpful - 0
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