Help son cut himself with my razor

[Mustlovedogs99]

Help!!  I have HCV and yesterday when my 2 yr old son was taking a bath he got a hold of my razor and nicked himself.  I used the razor about 36-43 hours prior and I know I cut myself!  However, I usually rinse off my razors to get all the hair and soap off. I feel like the worst mother ever!  What are the chances he caught it?  When I got the razor out of the tub I didn't notice any blood nor did I when dressed him and put lotion on him. The cut is on the top of his foot (I found the razor near that foot in the tub).  It was like he got the razor down and just dropped it in the tub and bumped his foot up against it causing more of a slice than a cut, it looks like he just lifted the top layer of the skin.  The cut is very small and barely even has a scab.  I guess my main questions are:

1. What are the odds he contracted it?
2. Is the risk reduced because I hadn't used it in nearly two days?
3. Is the risk reduced because I do rinse of my razor and most likely the contact between him and the razor happened under water?
4. Altogether how much a risk do razors pose?  I have read things from a very low chance to a good chance.  I have also talked to HCV professional via hotlines and email and they have said the risk is low.
5. Should I get him tested?  If so when?

Thank you!

[can-do-man]

You really need to chill, if this is how your going to react every time something comes up your gonna drive yourself crazy. Theres alot of "if's, Maybes, couldna, don't knows" in your posts. Myself the way you describe what happened i don't see much if any risk. And yes the virus can live for up to 4 days BUT that would have to be in the perfect situation. In reality 16 to 24 hours.

Might as well get him tested, i have a feeling you will be doing alot of that. Good luck.

[his3707]

If he did contract HCV from the razor what can you do about it other than get him tested.  Then what?  There is no treatment for children that age.  I would forget about it for now and try to make sure your stuff like that is sterilized if it is going to be within reach.  I know I became complacent about these things.  I told my son about the hcv and not to touch my things like that, and the next thing I turn around and he is using my toothbrush.  My oldest son who is now 16 has the antibody for it (I had them both tested after I found out) but they could not get a genotype or VL.  I did not have him tested again.  Like I said, why.  I wouldnt put my son through this treatment.  When he is older I will get them both tested again and then decide what to do at that point.   My younger son did not test positive for the anti-body at that point.  Hopefully they will have better treatments out if they do indeed have it.  I didnt want my kid going thru their childhood worried about this.   I do preach universal percautions.  That is just What I did.   Some may disagree.  Wishing you all the best .  Oh by the way, I am UND and at week 45 of 48.  

[hrsepwrguy]

"The worst part is I don't know if my son ACTUALLY cut himself!"

"Would I have noticed blood if a 2 yr old got a hold of a razor??  Wouldn't I have noticed a cut on his foot throughout the day?? He never wears shoes and even when he goes outside I put them on but he takes them off."

No one here can answer these questions better than you and no one here can say whether or not your son contracted HCV, you have been given some really good advice above and the best advice I can give you is to follow through with the advice already given.

[Mustlovedogs99]

I would love some more insight regarding this. It has been horrible since I have not gotten to talk to my son's doctor because there is usually a 72 business hour turn around period for messages.  I have just read so many things with people saying the virus can live for weeks outside the body and then sources like the CDC say no more than 4 days and others say closer to 16 hours.  The worst part is I don't know if my son ACTUALLY cut himself!  Like I said in an earlier post, I didn't notice any blood, the only thing I noticed was the razor by his foot and he was holding his foot but didn't say a word and since he didn't cry out or bleed (that I could see) I just assumed he knocked it in the bath and didn't touch it.

Would I have noticed blood if a 2 yr old got a hold of a razor??  Wouldn't I have noticed a cut on his foot throughout the day?? He never wears shoes and even when he goes outside I put them on but he takes them off.

Please HELP!!  I try to think the best such as he didn't even get cut from the razor or even if he did the chances are low that he will contract the virus but my mind won't let me put my guard down.  It's like I start to forget about it and get into doing something and then I go right back to, OMG... this could potentially be a disaster.. I should continue to worry!

[Mustlovedogs99]

Thanks, Anne!  

I definitely will and I am starting to calm down!  I know it's not a death sentence or anything but I would hate to think my disregard would infect my poor baby or anyone else!!

[Anne1717]

Razors were frequently shared in our house before I knew I had HCV.  Neither of my sons have HCV but they no longer steal my razor!!  There is a very small risk so just to ease your mind, I would have him tested as has been suggested.

[Mustlovedogs99]

Thanks

Would I have noticed if my son did in fact cut himself? Like I said, I never saw any blood... AT ALL!!! He never wears shoes in the house so I keep thinking that I would have noticed some sort of cut on his foot. Especially when I got him out of the bath and I never noticed a cut until later in the day when I started thinking about it. Also, my son had been playing outside most of the day without shoes because he always takes them off. I usually stay in the bathroom when he bathes but I stepped out for a couple mins and when I went back in I just saw the razor in the bottom of the tub.

My friend said that her son cut himself with a razor and it was a blood bath. I guess that would make sense since a toddler has no idea what they are doing and would take no care.

The mark I saw on my son's foot could have been more conclusive to a scratch from something in the yard. It was like a 1/2 inch red mark and at the end of that a small cut, like a stick snagged him. I noticed it about 3:30 p.m. and by the time my husband got home it was around 6:00 p.m. and the red scratch was gone leaving just them small cut.

Any insight would be great!

[mikesimon]

A PCR test will detect the hepatitis c virus 2 to 3 weeks after exposure.

If I was concerned I'd have a PCR test performed rather than wait months for an anti-body test.

Good luck,
Mike

[Bill1954]

I imagine a knowledgeable medical doctor would suggest testing your son for exposure to HCV; I won’t speculate on risk for transmission as you describe it. The U.S. CDC has data for medical workers involved in accidental needle stick involving HCV seropositive patients; I believe the risk involved is 1.8% per incident:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Needle stick Risk for Occupational Transmission of HCV
HCV is not transmitted efficiently through occupational exposures to blood. The average incidence of anti-HCV seroconversion after accidental percutaneous exposure from an HCV-positive source is 1.8% (range: 0%--7%) (73--76), with one study indicating that transmission occurred only from hollow-bore needles compared with other sharps (75).”

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a1.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still, contact your son’s doctor; given your health history combined with this incident they might suggest testing. It takes several months for antibodies to develop, so this probably isn’t an urgent situation.

Good luck,

--Bill

[crigger]

I am no expert but I think the risk are low . I would have him tested just for your peace of mind .   Ask the doc when you should have him tested or call your local hospital and talk with an infection control nurse to find out when the best time to test.    Sorry you are going through this I know it hard.