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dormant hepititis c
just how long can this lie dormant-even stretching it to any possibility of infection on any list it was almost 40 yrs ago-is that possible? do i need to search for another means of contact? could I have gotten this from a cheating spouse since I have been faithful for this entire time-
My understanding from reading the literature is that the two most common ways people get hep c is either from a contaminated blood supply or IV drug use.
Here is what the CDC has to say on the matter (numbering my own):
1. (If) you ever injected street drugs, even if you experimented a few times many years ago.
2. If you were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987.
3. If you received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant (e.g., kidney, liver, heart) from an infected donor.
4. If you were ever on long-term kidney dialysis.
5. If you were ever a health care worker and had frequent contact with blood in the work place, especially accidental needlesticks.
6.If your mother had hepatitis C at the time she gave birth to you.
7. If you ever had sex with a person infected with HCV.
8. If you lived with someone who was infected with HCV and shared items such as razors or toothbrushes that might have had blood on them.
Full article here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/chronic.htm#5
Unless you can absolutely rule out all the above -- and keep in mind with numbers 6,7& 8 that the hep c status of most people is unknown -- then these appear to be the more likely transmission routes.
My personal opinion is that other transmission routes such as nail saloon or dental contamination are quite rare or else we'd be seeing many more cases in the general population.
-- Jim
Here is what the CDC has to say on the matter (numbering my own):
1. (If) you ever injected street drugs, even if you experimented a few times many years ago.
2. If you were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987.
3. If you received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant (e.g., kidney, liver, heart) from an infected donor.
4. If you were ever on long-term kidney dialysis.
5. If you were ever a health care worker and had frequent contact with blood in the work place, especially accidental needlesticks.
6.If your mother had hepatitis C at the time she gave birth to you.
7. If you ever had sex with a person infected with HCV.
8. If you lived with someone who was infected with HCV and shared items such as razors or toothbrushes that might have had blood on them.
Full article here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/chronic.htm#5
Unless you can absolutely rule out all the above -- and keep in mind with numbers 6,7& 8 that the hep c status of most people is unknown -- then these appear to be the more likely transmission routes.
My personal opinion is that other transmission routes such as nail saloon or dental contamination are quite rare or else we'd be seeing many more cases in the general population.
-- Jim
you can go a natural full lifetime unless you enjoy a good stiff drink then you got problems. Booze is bad, period.
Blood transfer from one to another and they don't know all of the ways it is transferred. Some get it some don't under the very same conditions. I'm at 28 years now since a blood transfusion. I don't spend a lot of time on the how just on the attempt to cure so I don't pass it on to another by some mysterious way. Dale
Blood transfer from one to another and they don't know all of the ways it is transferred. Some get it some don't under the very same conditions. I'm at 28 years now since a blood transfusion. I don't spend a lot of time on the how just on the attempt to cure so I don't pass it on to another by some mysterious way. Dale
I agree that dental contaminations are quite rare NOW. But when you go back 25 or more years things wasn't as sterile IV drug and blood transfusion i think are/were the most common. But if you include razors and toothbrushes, then it would be hard to leave out any blood to blood. Surely not many people share toothbrushes.
liarman - Welcome to the forum. You have received some good information here. I too frequently hear the term dormant used with reference to hep C. I found out I had the hep C antibodies in 1993 - at the age of 46. I researched what I could - there was not much out there. Since I was not symptomatic, I figured I had escaped liver damage. I think it is not so much that the virus is dormant, but that your own immune system is strong. Last year - at the age of 57 I decided it was time to stop fooling myself and find out. I was still not symptomatic but the biopsy showed some liver damage (stage 1, grade 1). I have probably been infected since 1968 - 1969. So yes, you can have this disease for 40 years or more.
alady - we hippies had dark sides too. Not everything was as it seemed. Thus the hedonistic ventures into IV drug use that got so many of us here.
alady - we hippies had dark sides too. Not everything was as it seemed. Thus the hedonistic ventures into IV drug use that got so many of us here.
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