Passing on to children

[Tamieka]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone has had there children tested for Hep C.  I have a four year old and am quite undecided about getting him tested.  I know the risk of passing it on to your children is minimal.

I would like to know other's who have tested their child/children, and their opinion.

cheers, Tamieka

[nazzareno]

Thanks Bill, very helpful info.

[Bill1954]

And of course, great care must be taken by a man if he’s doing treatment for HCV and his spouse is of childbearing years. The oral component of treatment ‘ribavirin’ can cause birth defects; two forms of contraception including barrier (condoms) are required.

--Bill

[Bill1954]

Sure; a father can infect his children in the same way he could infect anyone else if there is blood contact, but not genetically or via childbirth; this is known as ‘vertical transmission’.

--Bill

[nazzareno]

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, can the father pass it to his children?

[Isobella]

Wow, again.  Reading your comment really hit me.  I feel for you.

My daughter wasn't exactly an  adult when I was diagnosed.  She was 18.  After I sat her down and explained what was going on with me, I gave her some time to digest the information.  

Before I even had a chance to tell her I was going to have her tested, she came to me and told me she wanted to be tested.  

As adults, it's going to be their decision whether to test or not.  As it stands, they don't know they have that decision to make.

Tough decisions all the way around.  My heart goes out to you.  I hate the $#(*#@! virus.

((((HUGS))))

Izzy

[IMstacie]

Wow, this is a hard post for me to read.  I have adult children whom I've never told I had it or treated.  Now, I'm wondering what to do.  

[merryBe]

test for peace of mind, but remember lab errors occur. My son had 2 lab errors, and ended up being negative in the end. Not all lab techs are as careful as they need to be, unfortunately.
That is one reason many lab tests are said to be 75% accurate. Some of that is the science or the machines, but much is due to human error. If you get a positive do more than one test.

mb

[denisef714]

Thank you for that info. It really didn't matter with my daughter fluid never came it. I did have a son on 12/16/05 and that is the dr that said not to because my fluid did come in. It was horriable. My son is not with us anymore due to a drowning accident. I will proably have my 11 year old checked the next time they take blood. I hate to have them ***** her only because if this demon. 1st time she was checked it was because they took blood for something else.

[sunshines76]

I think doctors have not come to any definite conclusion as far as breastfeeding concerned. Your doc was on a safe side advising you not to breastfeed, just in case, it looks like. When I had my twins, I consulted with a hepatologist, infectionist, lactation consultant, neonatologist, and pediatric doctors - all of them told me to breastfeed. I did. I was more concerned that they would catch it during delivery though. We did save cord blood, the company later called me and said that my sample tested HCV positive, but the kids' ones were fine.

My babies are absolutely healthy, they were tested at around 18 months old. I am going to ask our pediatrician to test them again when they turn 3 y/o. Just in case.

[denisef714]

Yes my daughter was checked at about 2 years old. Children have to be at least 18 months to check. I am happy to report I did not pass to my daughter. I did have a DR tell me that with HEP C it is best not to breast feed. (My milk never came in anyway)

[Isobella]

I apologize because as I was responding to your post, I had electricians at my "get-away" house and practically had an electrical fire, so I had to get offline before I was finished.

So, you have completed tx...that's good.  In thinking about it, if my daughter had been as young as your son, I would have defo treated first and focused on regaining my health so that I could then totally focus on my child.  

As far as testing your son....honestly, I don't think anyone would consider treating a child that young.  My gut reaction....and I've been thinking about this since I first read your post....I would not have tested my daughter at 4 years old.  If it was positive, it would only make money for the insurance companies, if like me, you are independently insured.  Or render her uninsurable until all this new health care stuff goes through.

As a nursing student, and prior HCV patient, I consider my skin my greatest protection.  If I have a cut, no matter how small, I cover it.  Same with my daughter.  I no longer have this disease, she still does.  As painful as that is for me to feel that (she hates when I say stuff like that) on a day to day basis, it makes no difference in our lives whatsoever.  

We live liver healthy lives.  (ok, her more than me) and knowing there are newer, better  treatment drugs on the horizon……….I have high hopes for any kid diagnosed with this.  

((((((HUGS))))))
Isobella

[working dog]

my x and i both have geno 1..we have 7 kids and none of them have hep..we had all of them tested.......billy

[Tamieka]

thanks guys so much for this feedback.  I would really love to find out, my husband it adamant about finding out when our son is old enough for treatment, and that's also what my specialist had advised me.

Isobella, my heart reaches out to you and your daughter, and I can't imagine how hard it was for you.  

Greatbird, I am so happy for you.

I wish you all the best of health.  

[Bill1954]

Welcome, Tamieka :)

[Tamieka]

thanks so much.  I also just found a lady who commented in a post that her daughter has the virus, so I have just sent her a message.

It's actually nice to be part of something that we all have the same virus.  I have nothing like this where I live, not even my family is supportive, and I dare tell any of my friends.  So I live in silence, except for my husband.....but as good as he is, it's just not enough.  I went through treatment last year, lost most my hair and was lucky enough to suffer with nearly every side effect possible, so it was hell, and I had no one really to talk to, can you believe my friends didn't even notice that my beautiful curly long hair was no longer.  So happy to have found this site, and thankful to you all for feedback.

I wish you all well, Tamieka

[GreatBird]

I had my children tested as soon as I found out, and my husband, too. My daughter was twenty, son thirteen. (Not saying on the DH *grin*.) They ALL tested clear and I can't tell you what a relief it was. I would have insisted on this at any age.

Mother-child transmission is rare but it does happen as Isobella posted above.

[Isobella]

My daughter tested positive.  She was 18 when I was diagnosed.  There was no way she wasn't gonna be tested.  She was even more adamant than I was about it.  

It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do.  

I honestly can't say how I would have played it out if she was 4. The chances of you passing it on are slight.  Only 6%.  The way my doc helped me to decide is to tell me to imagine how good it was gonna feel to know for sure she was negative.

Didn't exactly work out that way for us.  But I'm still glad to know. I only know of one other mom that used to post who had one positive and one negative.  Marcia had twins, one tested negative and the other tested positive for antibodies only, meaning she cleared on her own.

Good luck to you.  I'm wishing the best for y'all.  Please keep us posted.  

((((HUGS))))

Isobella

[Bill1954]

As you’re aware, the likelihood of vertical transmission is low, but it can happen.

I just flagged down a forum member whose child has been infected this way, hopefully she’ll respond soon. She can probably walk you through this better than most here; she’s quite knowledgeable as well.

Good luck—

--Bill