To tell or not to tell - That is the question?

Hi all,
We have an 18 month old daughter with Hepatitus (hepatitis) C. She is in the church nursery up to three times a week.  Do we disclose to all the workers that she has Hepatitus (hepatitis) C? Universal precautions are in place but not always used. How have others handled this type of situation?

[Myown]

Very sorry to hear your child has hep c.

I think it would be very important to disclose this info to the teachers. Another child may start the day with a bandaid and by the end of the day, it has fallen off. It would be a dangerous situation if 'that child' scratched 'your daughter',drew blood, and then touched her own exposed wound. Children at that age sometimes bite each other also,,the teachers need to keep an eye.

[amommy]

Hi there!
I have a 3 year old daughter with hep c.  In conjunction with her doctors (both ped and gastro) have agreed that we do not need to disclose.  Yes, their is risk.  But, in ANY daycare or preschool situation, universal precautions should be in place.  If you were to share the info about your daughter, she would likely face social repercussions.  Being a kid is hard enough, and to be a kid who isn't treated like the other kids is just brutal.  It is a very personal decision, and there are pros and cons to both sides, but this is the decision that we have made.

[Kalio1]

If it was me, I'd talk to the doctors, ask them what do they think? It seems the chances of her passing it along as a toddler are very remote. If the risk is very small and the doctor concurs, maybe it's best to not mention it. People are so ignorant about HCV, I feel there is a risk of her being stigmatized. It would be rare indeed for a toddler to pass on a blood borne illness to others.
I guess the question is, is being HCV positive a "medical condition" requiring notification? My answer would be no, not unless she is undergoing treatment.

[goldyn]

You seem like your pretty involved in your church maybe you can be on the childcare board and make them start taking universal precautions,Im on the other end im a preschool worker for two different churches, and i let no one know ,Ive taught for 20 years and found out i had hepc 4 years ago, my youngest son went to work with me and one day busted his lip so bad it bled all over, and those wonderful God fearing women just picked him up and without gloves and let him bleed all over them while trying to get a towel for him , and i remember i said to myself thank God I had him tested and he was negative because I dont know what i would have done right then if he  was positive.A child of 18months is a cut or booboo waiting to happen, i guess it would depend on if your child was really mellow or bouncing all over the place, in other words boy or girl???
It would also depend on if he orshe was a biter, If your child has a bad cut that needed a band aid you could just bring them to service with you for that day, and maybe tell them that your child is a bleeder and that they are to notify you right away if they bleed....there are ways around this...also if it ever came down to it you are in the house of the Lord with
christian people and you could only hope that would act in a christian manner...
        Blessings Goldyn

[jmjm530]

I agree with Amommy and Kalio.

[Kalio1]

Blood borne illness requires BOTH parties to be bleeding or have wounds and bleed into one another's wounds. Like I say, remote.

People can dream up wild scenarios where transmission could possibly occur and freak out. That is the kind of paranoid thinking that promotes stigmas about this disease.

[honey11]

I have very mixed feelings on this,,,,The right thing would be of course to tell them just so they will know in case there was an accident!  But on otherhand,,,I'm thinking how many people react,,,like idiots,,,if they don't know enough,,,,and personally my 18 month old daughter,,,I would want her not to be treated any differently and to be loved and it would break my heart if others were maybe treating her different then other kids in the nursery.  
I know others are saying lack of courage but maybe its also called protection over your kid.  What would be the best way to handle this situation if a person does decide to tell the church workers.....Would you give them some sort of print out with everything about Hep C so they will know and it can be explained to everyone as more and more learn about?

[Kalio1]

Even if there IS an accident, there would have to be two wounded kids who managed to bleed into each other, a very unlikely scenario.

[amommy]

Just as an aside, there very well may be other children in that room who also have hep c.  If not children, than workers.  It is a very prevalent disease,we can't live in fear, we can only be smart.

[amommy]

Not yet :)  I think you all will be the first to know!  My first month was VERY close to my 6 month post tx date, and while i'm sure their is a fair amount of cushion built in to that timeframe, i just wouldn't be able to handle the guilt if something were to go wrong.  SOOOO, we are on for trying this month!  Say a little prayer :)  Thanks for asking!  I would love nothing else more than a pregnancy for christmas :)

[imbetternow]

The law requires daycares to deal with these risks. They must always be on the alert. They have to clean up blood with bleach, etc. Just like adult, kids are carrying HCV and don't even know it.

Your Dr will probably be the best source of advice but again, daycare workers have to be trained in blood born pathagens and should be on alert whether they know about your child or not.

I'm sorry you and your child are dealing with this.

[pigeonca]

My sister-in-law has had diabetes since the age of 2.  She was giving herself insulin injections by age 8.  By kindergarten she had learned what she could and could not eat, and the importance of adhering to a strict diet.  Short of bleeding upon the open wound of another child, your child's greatest risks will come in elementary and high school, using art supplies, shop tools, etc.  By then he or she ought to be aware of risky behavior and how to take precautions so as not to infect others.  But, given the minimal chance of transmitting hcv in pre-school,  I see no reason to subject a child to the possible stigma that informing the teachers might bring.   And by the time there could be a problem, your kid should know what to do and why to do it.

[honey11]

Hi,,,Does bleach kill the virus?  Just wondered,,,seems like I read somewhere that it didn't or how long can the virus live if there is blood somewhere?

[orphanedhawk]

I've been thinking about this dilemma. Ethically I think the workers should be informed. Put yourself in the shoes of a mother who's child got Hep C from your child. If it just makes the workers be extra diligent in cleaning up after scrapes and cuts, then it would be worth it, don't you think?
   Why don't you want to tell them? Are you afraid of your child being an outcast? Kids that age, don't know the difference. Sadly the law isn't there to protect us. The law is there to protect the insurance companies.
     Good luck. This is not an easy decision.
And Rev, if you ever go to Cambodia ask for the Happy Pizza.

[Hepatitis Researcher]

Household bleach is a 0.71 Molar solution of Sodium hypochloride. The solutions for desinfection of viruses shall be 10% of such concentrate, diluted with destilled water. This solution will kill any lipid coated or nonlipid coated virus after 10min of exposure time with certainty. Source: Chairman of biosafety commitee of ISAC.

[petespin]

In talking to my wife who helps run our church's nursery, and who has taught preschool (and dealt with me through treatment --she is getting her own special place in heaven--), she recommended that if they are using universal precautions, such as gloves, it is not necessary.  However, chances are they may not, in which case, this is a good time to educate the nursery staff.  Bring literature that   helps them understand the facts, especially that it would take blood to blood contact to pass the disease, rather than casual contact.  

[ladybug52]

Hi, I'm a mama2four! I think Kalio, amommy, and imbetternow are giving you excellent advice.
1) It would have to be open cut against open cut to be transferred child to child.
2)We all take risks when putting our children in a room full of other children, who knows what the other child might have.
3)Day care workers are aware of the risks of spreading infection. They are taught to be careful of all diseases and virus because HIPPA protects the child from disclosure to those without a need to know. I used to work in early childood intervention and we didn't know who had what, we were just taught to practice universal precautions such as hand washing, cleaning toys, and gloving around human waste and blood products.
In this day and age, (love that old fashioned term) everyone has been informed of the risks. It's everyones' responsibility to be careful.
BUG
Rev I'll take take some pain pills and ADs with my roses, I'm not much of a pot smoker, makes me paranoid.

[scubadiver30]

Hello there
Is that what they use to clean dentist drills? What's your opinion about parenteral infection at the dentist or thru other surgical procedures nowadays? How can we tell the health professional is not following the right safety procedures?
Over here 200 patients got infected supposedly out of one doctor.
Dr Maeso was the case. Back in Valencia, 2003
Thanks and regards

[cuteus]

universal precautions is for the workers, not the kids. Kids to kids interaction is not protected under universal precautions.  There  doesn't have to be open wound to open wound contact only.  Kids scratch each other, blood under fingernails and then they pick at their own scabs, or rub their eyes.  A show in PBS not long ago, featured a paramedic who got infected with bloody vomit in his eyes, that was the conclusion in his case. It is possible. child gets cut, blood on toy, another child plays with it because the worker did not notice, child hands to eyes or other body part.  Kids are kids, the scenarios can be farfetched and still be normal for kids.  Sharing drinks with straws, which can scratch the inside of the mouth, so many things to keep track of.  the adults just need to be vigilant, because toddlers can't.

[njrsl]

finaly a woman of REASON!!!! hahahahahah... toddlers chew on everything Sheeesh!!!!   how stupid can these peeple be??  the dude up there is right on time to teach the peepole at the church how to handle thigns.  some todlers have hepC mabe we dont know but the ones  ya know tell folks!!!!  todlers are animlas an put everything int their motuh, each other stuff to!!!!!!Sheesh!!!! take a cloth an run on any todler gum... ya gonna get blood most times!!  i just told my woman an as stupid as she is on most stuf she new that.  Tx gettin to some of ya..
oh i don't want tohurt my little daghter feelin so let jonny get HepC instead!! sick!!!! you folk need to be ashamed!!!

[njrsl]

yes sirrreee!! alrighty!!! hahahaha
kidden asiide, my preacher wud say the  same thing. satanic is scary stuff an iwhat I been readin hear in the lass two days I'm fraid theres some satanic worrship goin on an that aint rigt an childrn will suffer. the drug of choyse of this board look likei it is weed cuase it would take POT heads (mabe crackheads) to came up with whats said on this suject. i aint even goin laugh at this!!!!!!!!!

[ladybug52]

Oh please. Are you for real? You sound so outrageous I know you are either a phony or rev's evil twin brother.

[cuteus]

he is real, believe me.  comes in with a bang and then takes a break.  You should have seen the exchange when he first came on the board! whew!  talk about getting jumped on!  

ps; he got an earful from me and others, and then...he kind of grew on some of us, like poison ivy....
kidding!  he is harmless, but very outspoken and his style can rub many the wrong way.  come to think about it, there are other members that can grind your nerves, but you can learn to like them at the same time.  you don't have to, of course.

[ladybug52]

Seriously?
Thanks for the update. Just his comment about "told my woman and as stupid as she is.." seemed so way over the top I thought he must be a phony. Guess I don't know many people with attitudes like that who can't spell but can navigate the internet.

And nitramog if you read this don't take ofense about my spelling comment, I think you are very smart, just not a good speller.

[njrsl]

woman don't be mad at me. please...hahahhaa... ya more edcated than some of us, but I did pretty good in spellling in school.  my old woman know I toalk about her like that, we are reely in love an thats that. im the one discrimnated aginst ... she an her mom both tret me like a workhorse an thats fact!! hahahaha  i ben comin to this place sense 2004. cutues tel me how she feel an I repected her 4 that.. othr wwomen and men do to. idont type ech time on but read when can, work lotsa hrs. Iclose to these folk. i sorry I call the folk above stupid but that how I feell an bein trthful.  sorry if ya mad thats just me.

[ladybug52]

I'm not mad just bewildered. Haven't been here long enough to know you. I just don't like it when men are disrespectful when talking about their 'woman'. Didn't your Mom raise you better than that?
Bug

[njrsl]

Sheesh woman!  Ya reely sound like a nice woman an never wouda believed iwoudl get into heavy stuff bout how we say stuff wen we talkin about deseases. if I ofended ya, Im sorry maam.  Ma was a wonderful woman an taugt us good mannrs.  yah, dad my brother an me called her the old woman. are freinds alwasy called their moms an wifes  old woman or old lady jus like some of my bros call each other.. well wud rathr not even give the initial but a  term of endarment. nevr meant to ofense anybudy hear. navigate intrnet?? hahahahahaha i shop an bank and quite literite on the computr.. surprised? mae not have your gramer skils but pretty smart.  we all funtion on diiferent levels maam.  like i say ya sound real nice ..they (old womin) be back soon so goin off now.  hoep to see ya this next week.ns

[cuteus]

haha! that is how he got in trouble when he first came on, calling women broads and other stuff, he really is harmless once you know his manner of 'speaking'.
we can't all be grammatically correct, but we seem to understand each other nevertheless.  there is a good heart somewhere behind the foot in the mouth...

[cuteus]

holy canoli! if someone would have told me, the day that he came in with a bang, that I would be defending him in the future, I would have crushed their heads!

[honey11]

ROFL....my thoughts!

[njrsl]

ya probably the kindist most lovin woman Ive met without seein.... hope ya with me here in a couple yrs wehn I TX.  uh huh@!!! ... be good girl. i think ya is as nice as my woman!!!! I realy does.

[njrsl]

yah, well I work less winter montns and longs as my woman dont get jelous ii l be here a lttle  You helpd me lots when i Relpsed in 04.  you spirtual man and w need that on this place revrand., skip the wiedos and keep up the support. ns