Hep C Parents: Did You Test Your Child(ren)?

[BoceprevirGal]

How many Hep C positive parents decided to have their children tested because they gave birth while Hep C Positive, or (for the Dads and Moms) if they were worried about  house-hold transmission?

[orphanedhawk]

My adult children and husband were tested after my diagnosis, as suggested by my doctor.

[BoceprevirGal]

  Thank you for telling your story~  I have been looking around on the Internet for awhile, concerning this subject, and I dont think Triple Tx is approved for people under the age of 18 yrs, with Incivek and Boceprevir, although more research is coming out all the time, for Hep C Treatments, and  perhaps if a minor child was sick, then an exception would be made.
   I finished my Hep C Triple Tx one year ago, and I just helped my husband complete his as well.  I have to admit, I am feeling exhausted and slightly depressed from this whole experience, so I am going to wait another couple of years, and have my pre-teens tested when they are in high school. By then, if I am one of the unlucky 6%, that passed it on to one of my children, the newer and easier Treatments will be available. I had my 21 yr old daughter tested when she was 16 yrs old, and she was negative. I also lost a baby when I was pregnant, the same year I believe I caught Hep C, but not sure if acute Hep C would be a cause for this...I had severe itching all over, during that pregnancy.
  My children have always been healthy, but then again, they havent ever had labs done, with a liver panel, either.  I am gearing up to having them tested, but our pediatrician has never suggested it,nor has my Treatment Doctor.  I agree with you, his3707, I feel that the Hep C antibody test should just be part of our Yrly Physicals, all of us, all ages. Perhaps the Medical Assoc. doesn't want to cause some kind of mass hysteria,  where we would find out just how many people actually do have Hep C, so they are waiting to do this sort of mandatory testing, only once the FDA has the easier Meds available. Also, will there be enough meds to treat all, both rich and poor?

[his3707]

After my diagnosis, I had everyone in my family get tested. My 13 year old son at the time came up positive for the AB.  No genotype or vl could be determined.   Everyone else in the family came up neg.  I did not have anyone retested.  Will have my now 17 and a senior in highschool AB Positive son retested and if positive for virus then he will treat with hopefully something great the  fall of 2014 before he goes to college.  I would not let him do the current treatment. unless he was dying.  I dont even think it is approved for under 18 anyway.  All his blood work is normal right now.   It really was a horrible thing for me to come to terms with the fact that I could have given him this virus.   I asked my ob to test me for EVERYTHING!  He was born in January 96.  Why he didnt test me for HCV I dont know.  I will never know, probably insurance and money, but I was not even aware about HCV.  He could have informed me and  offered it at an extra cost to me and I would have done it for sure.   I had my youngest son in July of 99.  I was still not aware of HCV.  and never tested.   I have been tested for HIV 5 times.   Weird  so weird to me and a load of crap.  Of course I will also never know how he was exposed for sure.  He did have his tonsils and adnoids out when he was 5 or 6.  sooo..  you just never know.  That is why I dont understand why they only want baby boomers tested.  If it can be passed from mother to child, then we all need to be tested.  once again, probably about money and or insurance.   I treated in may 2011 for 48 weeks with triple therapy incivek and have obtained my SVR!

[oceanbreeze40]

I have recently tested positive.  I will have my daughter tested at her next yearly.  I am still trying to convince my husb to get tested.

[dontworry_behappy1]

I can't answer if I had minor children would I have them tested for hep C.  If I did have minor children I would have them tested.  I would want to know now!!  I would want peace of mind....and wouldn't want to find out later I should have had them tested.  This is just my opinion : )

[Advocate1955]

Yes, my husband's PCP recommended that our two (then) minor children and I all be tested.  We all tested negative.  Then our children's pediatrician recommended that they be re-tested in 6 months to be on the safe side, but my PCP felt that I did not need to be re-tested.
Advocate1955

[child24angel]

Truly very sorry. My heart is with you .

[Dee1956]

Bo I asked my kids to get tested.  While I was told transmission is very rare I did not want to take a chance.  
Oh, after watching your Utube video I see that there are easier ways to check for the virus.  They can now take it from your finger vs drawing blood.  
Good, informational video.

Luvbug, I am so very very sorry.  I read your post, it took my breath away for a few.  I at a loss for words.

Dee

[BoceprevirGal]

  I am so sorry you had to hear that bad news, that your precious son tested positive.  But there is good news;  the medical field has made SO MUCH headway, for cures, especially within this last year, and that is big news!
  My husband just finished a 12 week Trial, with meds made by a company called AbtVie, and these meds are working so well, that they have been put on fast-track, by the FDA, and this means they may be approved as early as 2014.  Other good news is that an easier Treatment is being made available as early as dec 2013, using a new med called "Sofosbuvir", which will shorten the length of treatment, for geno 1's, to 12 weeks, and will allow geno 2's to Treat without Interferon, so much less bad side effects all around.
   Do you know you and yr sons genotype?  The very bad side effects you hear about on here are manytimes due to long term Interferon Treatment, or 1st generation Protease Inhibitors, called Incivek and Victrelis~
  By the time little Jeffrey has to Treat, there will be "2nd generation" Protease Inhibitors available.
  There is tons of hope, so just concentrate on being the best Mommy you can be, Luvbug.

[Luvbug77]

Yes I did pass my hep C to my son during birth, I was told there was a slim 2none chance of passing it on,Jeffrey didn't want 2 come out, so had emergency c-section, worst I was on suboxion so my son was sick , my baby Dr told me 2 get him test @ 18 mths that's when it can show up, u talk bout the worst news 2 get, his hep Dr said he can't b treated for years so hope. His levels stay low, I didn't know I had hep & I will have no more kids I dnt think its fair 2 a kid, my hep Dr told me its best not 2 say anything 2 the schools he'll b treated diff. I hate that he can't play football, my sons only 3 so I'll. Tell him when understands.

[ActingBrandNew]

" or (for the Dads and Moms) if they were worried about  house-hold transmission? "

I was always worried about passing it to my children. Ive thrown away whole meals I prepared after accidentally nicking my finger...I "quarantined" all my hygiene items to prevent any accidental usage...I was always scared to give it to my children.