Very Rare Questions

My mother-in-law was staying with me and she has hepatitis c. I reasently gave birth to be beautiful baby boy. My mother-in-law had a rash on her arm that she itched all the time and the rash kind of looked liked it oozed sometimes as well. One day she told me that she was letting him chew on her fingers, and i am pretty positive that she didn't wash them before hand can my son catch it like that? Also my middle son got ahold of her toothbrush and was chewing on it, i know that you can't catch it by saliva but if her gums might of bled while her last brush and she didn't wash it off good enough could he of caught it like that?  Please give me some answers soon this is a matter that i am highly concerned about.

[Trinity4]

Hepc is transmitted by blood to blood contact.  The infected persons blood must enter the other person bloodstream.  A new baby is not going to catch hepc by chewing on your mother-in-laws fingers.  You can't catch hepc by ingesting residue from dirty hands.

Toothbrush, very doubtful.  It is listed as a form of transmission but very very low.  If  he was chewing and not brushing as in breaking the skin he should be fine and you really don't know if your mother in laws gums were bleeding to begin with.

Have a talk with your mother in law and ask her take precautions with her personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers.

Here are several good websites that will educate you on the transmission of hepc

janis7hepc.com
hcvadvocate.org

[Shay5896]

Thank you for the websites! I ended up making her move out because of other issues. I am sorry but maybe i didnt state the question very good, Can he catch it from her itching her open wond/bad rash then letting him chew on her fingers without washing the oozing puss stuff that was coming from the rash?  

[Trinity4]

No, you can't catch hepc by ingesting puss from the infected person. In other words, swallowing the puss or blood.  If there was blood in the puss and the child had open sores on the lips or in the mouth there could be a chance of transmission but again, very very slight.  I have never heard anyone on this board indicate they were infected with hepc by the method you have stated.

[Shay5896]

Thank you so much! I know that the questions that i asked may be pertty dumb questions but i did worrie about it alot. Now that you answered those questions now i will be able to sleep better at night and get thorugh the day without worring so much thank you so much!! Your the only one that i have been able to get those answers from. Mine and my kids doctors all said that they wasnt sure. So thanks again!!

[copyman]

It would be possible from both scenerios you describe but highly unlikely. the toothbrush with a baby that was teething or a child that was loosing baby teeth would make it a little more possible but still highly unlikely.

[Trinity4]

Too funny.  Ricky, gotta love ya!!

[jmjm530]

We've had a number of highly implausible transmission scenarios posted in this forum recently.  I just hope that people new to this subject understand that you do not catch Heptititis C through normal daily activities.

Must say that I find it quite odd that the posters of these questions obviously have done some research into the subject and yet seem to have twisted the information into scenarios that are either implausible or unrealistic. So not sure then if more research is the answer or perhaps some counseling.

-- Jim

[IMstacie]

"letting him chew on her fingers."  I would be more worried about him catching something else.  

[Trinity4]

Don't forget about the mosquitoes and fleas.  Cat scratches too.