Infections

[mr.pink]

Can tooth infections be dangerous on tx?
Mr. Pink

[chcnme]

Hey! I think that is good news for you  (that you went to the dentist - even though the newbie was er uhhh... not so nice in your mouth :).   I think had the dentist seen any warning signs of any infection brewing, he would have told you.  Keep brushing your teeth - after every single meal no matter how sensitive they are  (get a soft toothbrush) and floss, too.

I'd watch out on the hydrogen peroxide. It used to be used, but it is not recommended anymore for mouth rinses because it has been shown to destroys healthy gum tissue.  My dentist and peridontist have told me to never use it for any reason inside my mouth.  Get yourself some Listerine -- use it full strength four times a day.  If you see the dentist again, tell him about your sensitive gums.  Salt water gargles can help, too.

The only time you will possibly get in trouble with "infections" is if your ANC (absolute neutrophil count) is waaay down, and even then, my doc has told me that a low ANC with Hep C treatment usually does not cause infections (or that it's not a HUGE risk with treating Hep C.)  Granted, one doesn't want to have any invasive or surgical procedures done with an ANC way down or unnecessarily expose themselves to people who are sick, and if yours is low you do need to be cautious,  but unless your GI doc has told you that you are at risk of infection, I wouldn't worry about it too much.  He will tell you if you are.   Or better yet - if you are worried about this, ask him if you SHOULD be worried.  

I think you're doing awesome at this stage!  You do want to treat this stuff early (the Hep C) and so just hang in there. Yep, strength in numbers if good stuff.  We'll see you around.  Have a great day!  

[mr.pink]

Is one extra sensitive to infection and sickness? I went to the dentist a few days ago and a newbie started digging in my mouth. She caused my gums to bleed; if any little cold, etc is magnified ten fold, the same thing could be said about sensitive gums?? Actually, I am waiting till tomorrow instead of going to the ER tonight;  I have been periodically washing my mouth out with hydrogen pyroxide. As per my last thread about starting to crumble; now I think it was you who said that it could be just a cold, but that on tx colds can be alot stronger and harder to shake. Believe it or not, after my shot on friday I felt better; so I do not think it was low bc's. Now, as always the case, I am feeling the shot 48-72 hours later. A real rollercoaster ride;  but even though I could have probably waited for better meds, I wanted to try to clear while I am still relatively low stage and VL is relatively low as well. I think I made the right decision; of course, all of you as a support system makes all the difference. Strength in numbers that's for sure. Mr. Pink

[chcnme]

Oh no - I hope you didn't take off to the ER yet for this. By "pronto", I meant get seen by a dentist pronto for any infection.  I hope you aren't sitting in an ER somewhere waiting til sunup to be seen, but if you are - I hope they'll at least send you home on antibiotics if they see signs of infection.  If you haven't gone to the ER, call your GI doc when his office opens and tell them what's going on, and call a dentist, too.  Have the GI doc fax your last labs to the dentist.  If you cannot get to a dentist, you need to tell your GI doc. If you need something for pain, tell your GI doc.  

I don't know if a contaminated toothbrush could be a mode of transmission (reinfection) to ones' self.  I've heard people with Hep C and bleeding gums talk about their fears of possibly not responding to treatment on account of bloody gums and not changing toothbrushes, but my docs have never recommendeded that I change toothbrushes (at any time) if I see bleeding gums. It's just something I will do because I would not want to take the chance  (but it has not been recommended - not ever.)  

Best of luck.

[mr.pink]

Yes I am on tx; coming on sht 19 on friday. My gum is slightly bleeding as I type this. thus I think I'll go to the emergency room. I was un @ wk 12 and <600 at 24 days... I canot reinfect myself can I since I am und? And what is this reinfection scenario; seems strange if you are already infected to reinfect oneself, no? Mr. Pink

[chcnme]

Hi Mr. Pink.  Yes, they can be.  I can't remember if you are on treatment or not,  but if you aren't and think you have an infected tooth, get it taken care of now.  If you're on treatment, get seen pronto - don't put it off.    

Also (off the tooth topic), if you're still interested - you had asked a question in another thread (the one on alcohol) about studies on coffee and Hep C.  Here are some coffee links.

AASLD: For Chronic HCV, Pour the Coffee But Hold the Pot

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/tb/4395

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Coffee Appears to Reduce Risk of Fibrosis in HCV+

http://www.natap.org/2006/AASLD/AASLD_08.htm

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Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Recommendations for adults

(and since the other topic was related to alcohol and HCV, you might find, "HCV and Alcohol", in this one interesting, too - under diet.)

http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=heptitis/7941

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Caffeine Linked to Reduced Histological Activity in People with Hepatitis C

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2006icr/aasld/docs/111706_a.html

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Coffee Consumption Reduces the Risk of Liver Cancer

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2005/040405a.htm


Best of luck.  Are you treating?  If so, hang in there (or if not, hang in there!)

[Kalio1]

Any infection while on tx should be addressed right away including a tooth infection. Your defenses are down on tx, I'd see the dentist asap.