Need help on Hep C hygiene

[Noku77]

Hello guys.
I have been diagnosed with hep c 3 week ago, genotype 1b. Meanwhile that i am redoing all blood test and maybe the liver biopsy than to decide if I have to start the cure right now ore further on time I am concern for my familly. I do not want to transmit them the virus. I read that can be transmitted  only blood to blood contact but I do have small kids around and i am concerned for their safety. My question is that what kills this virus in case that this virus is out of my body?! If I boil my clothes in the washing machine is the virus killed (in case that in those close there might be drops of bllod)? Another question is that after a small cut on the finger opening a can for example, i will wash finger as I always did and put some petadine in it. The question is that if I am going to wash my finger and there are no sign of blood do I have still the virus over my hands now (wash of my hand with water)? If yes how I can disinfect my hands? If I touch small apne on my neck or face and after that somehow I do have blood in the hand how i can wash my self in way that I do not have any virus over hands. Looking forward for your reply.
Regards
e  

[Noku77]

Choosen by mistake the best answer. I just wanted to choose the one right above this.
Regards
n

[Noku77]

A big thank for all of you.
Sincerely
n

[pooh55811]

I see no reason to use a plastic fork, knife or spoon or other disposable eating utensils. I would wash all eating utensils before someone else used them, although even that, is probably not a problem. I never knew I had Hep C until July 2011 and I shared dishes, glasses, bottles of water or soda, and so forth and no one got Hep C from me. I took both raw and cooked food to gatherings. No one got it from me. I washed my clothes in washing machines, usually with just cold water and soap, and no one got it from me. I shared hand towels and face towels and no one got it from me. If it was that easy to catch, we would all have it.

No, there is no test that I know of that will tell you the age of your virus (ie how long you have had it). They can map the DNA and tell if 2 people have the exact same virus, but they cannot tell how long you have had it.

[orphanedhawk]

There is no reason to use seperate plates or utensils. The virus does not pass from saliva.

I will repeat, many of us raised children not knowing we had the virus and never passed it to them.

The best thing you can do is put your toothbrush and razor out of their reach.
Other than that, you need not doing anything special. If you get a cut, wash it clean it and cover it with a bandage.

There is no test that shows how long you have had the virus, just whether the virus is present or not.

[Idyllic]

Unfortunately there is no real way to determine how long you have been infected with Hepatitis C. I think in the beginning we all wonder how and when we contracted the virus. It doesn't help that the virus can remain dormant for many many years with no signs or symptoms.

[Noku77]

Hello pooh55811,
Thank you very much for your reply. I already did all of this but I was thinkig to use plastic plate, fork, knife etc, even to have toilet paper (those ones to clear the face that you found in every bar) but as i see there is no need. The fact that my wife is negative to the virus might be due to the fact that mine infection might have happen 6 months ago anyway after i will have my test ridone I will let you know. By the way there is any test that can show you the virus age on your body?!
Regards
n

[pooh55811]

In order for your children to get it, you would have to get your blood into their blood stream. I think if you are careful, that should not occur.

Wash your hands often.
Cover all wounds or cuts (band aid or dressing).
Clean up blood drops or spills.
Do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, or nail scissors.

I think with the toothbrush and razors and nail clippers, I would put them in a very high place inside of a cupboard where the children cannot see them or reach them. Let your wife know not to use them also.

I think that your wife not being infected should help calm you. You have been very intimate with her and yet she does not have the virus. I think if you are careful, your children will be fine too. Your blood would have to get into their bloodstream and that normally does not happen in a home.

I had the virus for about 35 years before being treated. As far as I know, no one has become infected from being around me.

Best of luck on your up-coming appointments.

[Noku77]

Thank you for calming me out. Mostly now I am thinking of my two sons. They are 24 months and the second one 5 moths old. My wife got tested and resulted negative to the virus. We have been maried for 3 year but we have more than 4 years. What I want is that I do not want to infect my familly. I will do anything that this never happen. Tried to find smth on what kills this virus for the personal hygine, but nothing (exept bleach) . In case you wash your teeth your brush might be contaminated (sometime there blood on the brush), and by mistake somebody else uses this brush might be infected only thinking of this make me not to wash my teeth again.

[orphanedhawk]

Many of us had hep C while raising our children and did not know it yet our children did not get it.
I had it probably before my kids were born yet I diapered them, cared for their scraps and cuts and they never got it.
Don't stress out about it, just use common sense.

[Idyllic]

Good hygiene is important either way but it helps to remember that Hepatitis C is transmitted via blood to blood exchange. Educate yourself as much as possible as it may be up to you to dispel myths and misconceptions about how HCV is spread.

Here is a cut and paste from the CDC web site:

★Can Hepatitis C be spread within a household?

Yes, but this does not occur very often. If Hepatitis C virus is spread within a household, it is most likely a result of direct, through-the-skin exposure to the blood of an infected household member.

★How should blood spills be cleaned from surfaces to make sure that Hepatitis C virus is gone?

Any blood spills — including dried blood, which can still be infectious — should be cleaned using a dilution of one part household bleach to 10 parts water. Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills.

★How long does the Hepatitis C virus survive outside the body?

The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for at least 16 hours but no longer than 4 days.

★What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?

Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm