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Just a Carrier?
My mother in law has had Hep C for many years. It's no big deal to her. Her boyfreind of over 10 years regularly gets checked for it, and is clear. She now watches my two kids and i'm so afraid, I have no other choice for child care, we have gone over some precautions (don't use gramas toothbrush!, never touch someone elses ouch!...) i want to ease my mind and know that she is just a carrier. I have asked her, although i'm uncomfortable to address it. I was told to ask her docter but i'm not sure how to or if it's ok? Is there anyother way to know if she is just a carrier?
My wife and I are both HCV positive and each with different strains of the virus. In the 30 plus years that we've been infected we were unaware of the fact that we were even infected for nearly twenty years. We never took any special precautions and we never cross infected each other or our two children. In the absence of being pricked or cut by the same utensil, I think the virus is a very very difficult thing to transmit. Exercise some common sense and you and your kids will be fine. BTW my wife babysits our grandchildren too, nearly every day.
Oh, and yes, how lucky you are to have a grandma babysitting your munchkins! I wish I could have this luxury, but both of our grandmas are still too busy :)
Your family is safe living with a person with hep c, I wouldn't spend time worrying about this. As I said before I would worry more then your mother in law has been properly assessed for her condition. There is no reason to think her doc does not know all the information, except that many non-specialists that people go to don't know anything about hep c.
I'd say listen to the people here, they are very knowledgeable! Educatecate yourself, as well as your kids! Teach your kids that sharing any peronal items isn't good.. I wouldn't worry, I'm sure the kids love their grandma, and the grandma loves the kids. I'm sure she's careful!!!
If your mother in law only has antibodies for hep c her body may have fought the disease in the first 6 months after she was infected and she does not have hep c any longer. If a person tests positive for antibodies, then an Hep C RNA test must be performed to see if they have the active hepatitis c. If a person tests positive for Hep C RNA after 6 months of being infected they are considered to have chronic hepatitis c and your body will no longer be able to eliminate the disease on it's own without treatment.
Everyone with chronic hep has the same potential to transmit the disease regardless of whether they have sustained liver damage. It is hard to contract from the individual who has it, there has to be blood to blood contact, it does not transmit with saliva or semen, and it is very rare to contract it from sexual contact.
Your family I am sure is safe. It would also be unlikely to get hcv from touching someone's wound since you both would need to have an open wound to transmit it, but it is always best not to touch other peoples wounds.
Hep C does not often present with symptoms until someone has advanced liver disease. She may feel fine, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have liver damage. The only way to know if you have liver damage is to have a liver biopsy to confirm it. blood tests only tell a limited story of the a person's condition. Has your mother in law seen a liver specialist (hepatologist) or is she basing her condition on how she feels, and from seeing a general Practitioner who may not understand the disease.
I wouldn't worry about her infecting your family. I would only be concerned that she has been thoroughly diagnosed and really knows the extent and stage of her disease.
Good Luck,
Dave
Everyone with chronic hep has the same potential to transmit the disease regardless of whether they have sustained liver damage. It is hard to contract from the individual who has it, there has to be blood to blood contact, it does not transmit with saliva or semen, and it is very rare to contract it from sexual contact.
Your family I am sure is safe. It would also be unlikely to get hcv from touching someone's wound since you both would need to have an open wound to transmit it, but it is always best not to touch other peoples wounds.
Hep C does not often present with symptoms until someone has advanced liver disease. She may feel fine, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have liver damage. The only way to know if you have liver damage is to have a liver biopsy to confirm it. blood tests only tell a limited story of the a person's condition. Has your mother in law seen a liver specialist (hepatologist) or is she basing her condition on how she feels, and from seeing a general Practitioner who may not understand the disease.
I wouldn't worry about her infecting your family. I would only be concerned that she has been thoroughly diagnosed and really knows the extent and stage of her disease.
Good Luck,
Dave
As long as your kids know they should never use ANYBODY's toothbrash, nail clippers, scissors, blades, etc., they should be fine. Their own grandma probably knows to be careful too. HCV is trasmitted only through blood-to-blood contact. Thus, if grandma has any open wounds, they should be covered. The same applies to your kids, as well as to anyone on this planet. To make it short - simply follow regular everyday rules of hygiene that are recommended to EVERYONE in this world. You shouldn't worry, your mom-in-law should enjoy her time with kids. I am sure they also love her very much.
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