Ways of transmission of HEPB/C vs HIV

[Steve1972]

There is a lot of materials on the form regarding HIV transmission.

What of Hepatitis transmission?   I read that it can not be transmitted via sexual relations?

In the HIV forum there is a lot writen about transmission via blood requiring an "open wound" - something very bloody and deep (not cuts, skin cracks or abrasions).

Is Hepatitis the same?

[Steve1972]

Thank you Aj - you are worth gold!

I agree - my mind just wonders - and one of the people I have been with (the person in question) is in a higher risk category which is where my concern is raised.

Also been sick on and off with a cold and flu for the past weeks which adds to anixety about things - but there is a bit of it around at the moment so it is just a coincidence no doubt.

Many thankyous.
S

[auntiejessi]

LOL last time - yes, I think you are fine.

Chances are, whoever your partners are, they didn't have HIV or Hep C.  Both are very uncommon, actually.

Aj

[Steve1972]

Hi Aj

Yes I know; I've just a little paranoid now days.   I think the more I am reading on hepc and hiv the more the fear of the may possibilities of things happening.  If you read enough web sites you would think that you can get hepc or hiv from just about any contact!!!

The big issue in my mind is my skin splits were very deep - about 1/2 inch long and I would think nearly at the bleeding level and not a little surface scratch (but definitely no actual blood coming out).  Thinking about it though I do not think there was any blood contact with the other person, at least none I can recall - unless the person had some anal bleeding (which is probably a really long shot). - my mind getting the better of me??

Still think all is okay? - I am sure you will say yes, but just hearing it would be good.

[auntiejessi]

Yes, I've said that already lol.

Aj

[Steve1972]

Interesting.

Thanks for the input.

so you think cracked skin (like I have) - quite deep and split but not bleeding or spotting blood is quite safe? (fingers in the butt) - no noted blood or bleeding - just over active mind concerned about the maybes!

I am starting to sound paranoid - I think after your response I'll go away!!

[auntiejessi]

Well, hep C lives outside of the body longer than HIV does, thereby making transmission by toothbrush, etc., a little more likely.  Its a basic precaution to take, but not one I'd freak over.  Then again, I don't have hep C, so it might be easy for me to say.

Aj

[Steve1972]

Many thankyous again.

Just seemed weird that the HEP-C forum is big on razors, toothbrusthes, coke straws (not my game) etc.  Given the strong stance on HIV not easily being transferred by cuts or grazes - the HEP peoples are really anal about those type of things?

A guy in the hep c forum said HEPC was a nano virus (small) - but they are all I would think.  I wonder if he was referring to the easy of spreading.  

He did say tho that the virus must get into someones blood stream and per teak's regular comments and all posts in this forum it seems that a cut - even if it was bleeding out a little (not a gaping open wound type one)  wouldn't provide for the correct transmission -  unless very unlucky??

What do you think?

S

[auntiejessi]

Yes, you can assume that.  :)

Aj

[Steve1972]

that was what I thought as well.

Going back to a situation I put myself in a while back, whereby I had deep (not bleeding or weeping) skin cracks on my hand - I would assume (becasue they were not bloody or even spotting blood onto tissue) that there is little to no risk?

Many thank yous for your input.

[auntiejessi]

Those are mostly theory, as in "it could happen."  If it does happen, its rare.

If you are living with someone who has hep b or c, its a good idea to take the basic precautions, but its not terribly likely to happen that way.

Aj

[Steve1972]

Hi AuntieJessi

Many thankyous.

There is so much written about the difficulties to transmit HIV via cuts, essentially showing that you need a "wound" to do the transfer - yet it is interesting that in the HEPB/C arena they talk about transmission via much smaller cuts (someone mentioned toothbruthes, finger cuts and so forth).  

Are they just talking about the "theory" of transmission, I guess HIV can in theory be transmissted via a finger cut or scratch - but as mentioned many times in the forums it just does not occur in practice.

Is that the same for the HEPS?

[auntiejessi]

Hep B can be sexually transmitted.  It is very rare for Hep C to be sexually transmitted, as its only found in blood.

Yes, the heps are the same - would require a bigger cut than just a little scratch.

AJ