My daughter has hepatitis c please help!

Question

Hi all.. I just needed some support from those of you who know this demon.  My 4 year old adopted daughter tested positive for HCV 2 years ago.  She is genotype 1a and has a viral load of 150,000.  Her liver panels are fairly normal and the only symptom she has is a slightly enlarged liver.  I love her dearly and want the best for her.  However, I am also concerned for the other children in my home.  We have always used precaution with blood.  We do not share toothbrushes or personal care items like nail clippers.  But other than that we treat her normal.  Am I putting my other children at risk by taking this approach.  My hepatologists says that she is no threat to them or anybody else and we should not treat her as such.  He said even if she bleeds near them, they have to have and open wound or source for the infection.  We are pretty freaky about blood so I don't let blood just get passed around.  We use gloves and bandage and scrapes or cuts right away.  What do you think.... Have I cursed my other children to her same fait....

Thanks in advance..

franke566 · Answer

I am married 40 years w 3 children, grand children and I probably contraced the Virus in 68 when I had a blood transfusion so from 68 to 99-31 years I didn't know.  My wife and children tested Negative.  We never shared tooth brushes-yuck-combs and hair brushes yes.  My wife bandaged many booboos, as Bill put it over the years.  Love this child with all your heart and treat her no differently than the others,  Lord that will be picked up on by her and her siblings  quick and cause all sorts of problems to her little psyche- God love her!  Your a good soul! Franke

HCA · Answer

Follow this link for an encouraging article on treating young kids with Hep C.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/12/treatment_appro.html

t2622b · Answer

She is not white, but she is definately female, young, and way too thin.  I just hate that she is going through this.  I never expected this even when we were told the mom was positive.  We were just told to check on her at 18 months to confirm she had cleared the virus.  Thankfully, I am a little bit of a nerd and didn't took precautions just in case...


I sure hope she is on the cure side...

newleaf09 · Answer

Genotype one has lower success rates, but hey, if 50% cure, she has a shot at being part of the 50% on standard therapy. It's a less successful cure than the other genotypes, but it's a real question as to how each individual will respond.  The predictors for successful treatment for 1's are white, female, young, thin.  Your doctor sounds on top of things; I'd follow whatever he advises.

t2622b · Answer

Since her liver seems to be doing okay... We are going to hold off and wait for the new combo of drugs.  They will be available in a couple of years for adults but he is not sure when for kids.  We may be able to get her into a trial earlier than that.  He thinks as long as her liver is fine and she is maintaining a consistently lower viral load then she may have a decent shot at a cure even with her **** genotype (1a)

newleaf09 · Answer

Your doctor's advice is excellent and you are taking reasonable steps.

You may want to do an on-line search for pediatric hepatitis C treatment to get a little more information on that aspect of her future.

GreatBird · Answer

I have never read anywhere that hairbrushes are a route of transmission.

t2622b · Answer

I didn't even think about that being a route of transmission.. The only thing my hepatologists said was toothbrushes and nail clippers. He also said just in case not to share rags or bath sponges. I guess the thought is she might wash a scab and open it up and another child might use the same bath sponge. I have used the same hair brush on the other children. Mainly a pic because she is bi-racial and a brush just wouldn't do the trick...

HCA · Answer

Hairbrushes?????????????
I would be amazed if anyone ever caught Hep  C from a hairbrush-in fact I would eat my own hairbrush.
You can say all sorts of scenarios are 'possible' but ultimately it's IVDU,transfusions, tatoos and needlestick injuries.snorting and blood brother rituals.
If you have sex with someone for thirty years with no transmission you're going to get it from a hairbrush?

Bill1954 · Answer

So sorry to hear about your daughter’s diagnosis, but it sounds like she has found a good home. 

I believe your hepatologist’s advice is spot on; while I’d be mildly cautious about blood, I wouldn’t go overboard. I as a carpenter for years, and my wife and kids would bandage my booboos when they happened, which was quite often. This went on for twenty years before I was diagnosed, and none of them have developed the disease. The chances of transmission for HCV by needle stick as an occupational accident are thought to be around 2 0r 3% per incident; hopefully, that helps to put this into perspective. Blood is *always* dirty unless proven otherwise; but I’d be concerned about many other things along with HCV. Just use moderate care, and don’t share personal care items as you noted above.

Continue to monitor your daughter until she decides to treat her condition. There are new drugs in late phase clinical trial now; they’re known as protease inhibitors. Although they will be initially used as adjunctive therapy with interferon and ribavirin, they promise to increase efficacy and possibly reduce the exposure to the interferon. Hopefully they will be available on the shelf in two years. 

Take care, and welcome to the discussion group,

Bill

habanerohubby · Answer

I am 45 years old , was diagnosed 2 months ago started treatment last week 6-25-09 , I believe your concern is genuine and natural and you are doing great with your precautions, I have 6 kids including 2 grandchildren 3 yrs old and 11, when I first got diagnosed I cried because of my family, but was made aware by my Doc just as you were that contact, Hugs Kisses are fine, just watch any open sores. I dont know if the regimen for treatment is any different for small children, I do know the doses are configured by weight and genome type. The viral load is pretty small in my book, which is good mine was 1,880,000 . Please respond with any questions and concerns you may have, oh yea this MedHelp is GREAT.

HCA · Answer

The incidence of Hep C transmission in the home without high risk behaviour is so low as to be unmeasurable.
High risk behaviour is intravenous drug use-sharing needles ect.
You and your kids could live with this little girl for ever without being at risk.
Infection is only blood to blood-there is no active RNA is other bodily products.

thegypsy9164 · Answer

Sounds like you are on top of things.  Only route of transmission is blood to blood.  No sharing toothbrushes, hair brushes, etc that could precipitate an exchange.  Otherwise, you can all lead a normal life.
Joey