Hep C Concern

Dr,
  I posted this a day ago to Dr HHH and he said it was extremely low risk.  I just want one more opinion.  I was drunk in Vegas and shared a pipe for meth with an escort.  I did nothing sexual and did not even take off my clothes.  I have no reason why I did this as I only have smoked pot before in my life.  Now I am losing sleep over possibly getting Hep C.  I have read her blood could have mixed with my blood from the pipe in our mouths.  I did not use IV drugs at all or ever.  I dont think she ever has but really dont know for sure.  How common is what I did for spreading the disease?  She said she was disease free but she might not know about Hep C, right? Let me know how worried I should be over this encounter. Everything I read online says it can be transmitted that way.  Thank you so much in advance.  This is a great service.  

-Brian  

[Vaibhav Banait, MD]

Dear brian248,

I can understand your concern. Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through infected needles. The risk of transmission of hepatitis C through even sex is very less.  Sharing pipe is extremely unlikely to spread the disease.

To provide you some reassurance about how low are the chances of HCV spreading through such contact, I am quoting 'Slesseinger and Fordtran's textbook of gastroenterology', which says that even the use of condoms are not recommended in monogamous relationship if one partner is positive.

Anyway, since you are anxious about being infected,  I would suggest a HCV RNA PCR test after three weeks of exposure and a HCV ELISA after four to six months . This should rule out hepatitis c definitely and will clear any questions beyond doubt about you being infected.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Best Regards,
Dr. Vaibhav Banait.