Is this possible?

Hello everyone, I must ask a rather strange question.  I have a friend who came over yesterday, he recently told me he has hepatitis C.  He was playing on my computer, mouse and keyboard, for a few hours.  He tends to pick his nose from time to time, from what I remember, though I didn't actually see him do so.

After he left, about an hour later, I'd been on my computer, using both keyboard and mouse.  Without thinking, I had put my finger in my nose.  Assuming any snot ended up on my equipment, is it possible for hepatitis to transfer this way?  And if so, would it have died while exposed to oxygen, over the hour?

I'd still like the guy to feel welcome in my home, he's a good friend.  But I do tend to worry..  About everything.  Any comments would be very appreciated.

[mremeet]

You put your finger in your nose?? Uh oh, you might have exposed yourself to transboogerization. That could have rather dire consequences. I'll let others chime in with what the full ramifications of transboogerization could have. * :-(

[Anyonymous41215]

Hey now, this is a serious question.  I am concerned.  No need to poke fun, eh?

[mremeet]

Oh, ok. Well, please remember this: You can pick your friends. And you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose. Please, do your part to put an END to transboogerization!

[missy60051]

Oh boy!
you're good!

[FlGuy]

Do you havce any virus detection software loaded on the pc?  Might consider a non-scheduled scan?

[mikesimon]

No need to worry about that. If there were the slightest chance of infection no jokes would have been made. We all are wondering if you are serious but I will assume that you are. The virus is a blood born virus and requires blood to blood contact. So unless you both had bloody noses I don't see any risk. Mike

[missy60051]

Sorry that you have an inability to understand hep c.
Please educate yourself on the fact it's a blood on blood
disease.
I guess you can say questions like that can be rather insulting.
oh yes,
If you have had a tattoo,manicure, dental work,blood transfusions before 1992?,
shared razors or tooth brushes w/ some one who is hepc.  Get tested.

boogers are free of HEP C!

[Anyonymous41215]

So are the jokes coming from the EXTREME unlikelihood of this happening?

[FlGuy]

If I were to pick a phrase, extremely unlikely would be about it. But, who really nose?

[mremeet]

Yes, the jokes are making light of the situation because of the silliness of the idea of getting an HCV infection from a foreign booger to nose route. But seriously, it would be a good idea to be tested for HCV just for GP's. The vast majority of us that are HCV infected had the disease for many many years before even finding out we had it (like myself). Most have no symptoms of it, and it can take decades to start to wear on you so you'd notice anything. And some haven't the slightest idea where they got it, with no known/obvious risk factors (like IV drug use). So if you're the worrying type, have yourself tested for HCV just for the hell of it, it's actually a good idea for everyone to be tested...and not because of any boogery risk factor you might have. ;-)

[FlGuy]

Just to put your mind at ease a little bit...Many of use here have had hep-c for 20-30 years, are married, have families and are in much close proximity to transmission oppoutunities than you and your friend, and all is okey dokey..

[Anyonymous41215]

I'm really sorry, I did not mean to be insulting at all, though I do see how it was..  I just wasn't sure how to get an answer without being as direct as possible.  I haven't been feeling very well lately, for unrelated reasons, so I've been very paranoid lately.  I very much appreciate the responses.

[jmjm530]

Are you avoiding the VX-950 thread because it's all a  **** off
until tomorrow afternoons presentation or because you  can't get off this thread. LOL. But seriously, the expectation is that they're going to disclose some preliminary SVR data tomorrow afternoon. Is that your understanding as well?

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Your thoughts are understandable given the misinformation among the public, and even among doctors, about this disease. The fact, that you are not shunning your friend puts you in the more enlightened group. In reality, Hep C is a blood to blood transmitted disease so that you really have nothing to worry about. Thanks for stopping by and providing a lighter moment but you realize it was all in fun and without malice.

All the best,

-- Jim

[wyntre9]

Very funny!!!!

That's one of those lines that's gonna lurk in my brain and come popping out of my mouth at the wrong time to the wrong person.

Tranbuggerization - make sure you don't use that term on any of the morning talk radio shows!  

[mremeet]

I havent been avoiding the VX thread. It just seems to be a lot of hot air until they come off of the data. No need to obsess over it until they come clean. Also, I'm paralyzed with fear and greed with the thought of buying up a heap of VRTX stock. Trying to resist the temptation for now.

We'll see...

[ChrisDDD]

God, you are hysterical!

Phanoa,

I agree with the others about educating yourself on HepC.  Unfortunately, you're not the only person who thinks it is that easy to catch.  I blame the media for that.  What I'm about to say usually eases people's minds as I've begun to "come out of the closet" with friends about my HepC:  I gave birth to three children while infected.  I was infected before I ever had the first child and didn't know I had the virus until the youngest child was five years old.  They all came from my body and my blood, I breast-fed all three of them, and when I was diagnosed I had all three of them tested.  They're all negative.  That's how hard it is to catch, though I do know of some babies now, tragically, being born to HepC-positive mothers and the babies also have the virus.

[mikesimon]

From: http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/D2AD58ED-AABF-4D78-B771-0CB7EADA23CB.asp
Meta-analysis confirms hepatitis C vertical transmission more likely with coinfected mothers

"Rates of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HCV range from 4 to 10%; mothers coinfected with HIV are more likely to transmit HCV to their child. An earlier meta-analysis (Pappalardo 2003) determined the odds ratios for HIV-coinfected compared to HIV-negative mothers as 2.82 (95% CI, 1.78 to 4.45, p=.00001) for HCV antibody-positive women, and 1.97 (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.74, p=.04) for women with HCV viremia (detectable HCV in the blood)."

Mike

[jmjm530]

Yeah, I feel the same way about the thread and also about buying up the stock. However, based on my track record in the market, I think I'll sit this one out, which means it definitely will go up. LOL. My question to you really was how much data do you think they will present tomorrow but I'm assuming you know about as much as the rest of us on this which isn't alot :)

-- Jim

[bobbyullc]

i am so glad to see so many heppers have not lost their  sense of humor. i loved that "virus check" post. i laughed harder than i have in a long time.thanks.
bobbyu

[web52]

you guys are really funny! gave me a much needed lift :)  

[web52]

couldn't resist, made a small investment in vrtx today. guess it's the gambler in me :) even though i'm convinced the presentations will be positive, it's still preliminary/ early data.

[orphanedhawk]

I was sitting here giggling when the thought hit me that maybe there is a reason for concern. Platic straws used for snorting sunstances maybe responsible for spreading lots of HCV. So there is a very remote chance, especially if your friend is a snotty bugger, oops, if he has snotty boogers.
   Get checked.

[debnevada]

I am in the IT business.

Transboogerization is SERIOUS business. Please obtain a specialty product for cleaning electronics and for crying out loud, no sharing of keyboards!

Sorry, I needed a serious laugh.

[jmjm530]

Like I said earlier, since I didn't invest in Vertex, I can almost guarantee success for the stock. Had I invested, we all would have been in trouble. LOL.

-- Jim

[nitramog]

a hu. hu hu. he sed buger.I cant believe he sed buger beevas..   you can pick your frends. You can pick your nose. But you shoudnt pick your frends nose.????

[GrandmaA]

When my grandson had a bloody nose I gave him a tissue and sat him down on the couch then I moved across the room. My bloody nose would be a much bigger danger to my family than his. Still I don't like to touch anyone's blood.

Please clean off your computer after your friend comes over not because you might get hep. C but just to be sanitary.

There was a man in my hep. C support group who recently got hep. C from a blood transfusion. They are trying very hard to screen it out but occasionally it might slip in.

[Anyonymous41215]

I do plan to go in and be tested.  I'm wondering, however, after reading..  Acute hepatitis C is detectable within one to three weeks after infection..  So would it be best to wait a period of time before going in?

[mremeet]

Yes, considering your transboogerative exposure was recent, waiting at least three months prior to being antibody tested would be best. Then, follow up with another test at 6 month post booger exposure. Then, buy some saran wrap to drape over your keyboard, and also have alcohol wipes, and a 3 hp shop vac handy prior to herr nose nugget's next visitation.

Good luck sir, godspeed to you. @ * # + **& (those aren't what you think they are)