Jamie's 9 month appointment was yesterday. His great-grandfather has been very sick in the hospital. During the course of his treatment they learned that he had Hepititis C and has apparently had it for quite some time. I wasn't very concerned about it since it has been my understanding that it is only spread through sex, IV drug use, and blood. I decided to ask his Dr. about it anyway since I was taking the baby to visit him at the hospital. The doctor was not nearly as reassuring as I had expected. He did say that it is rare for a child to get Hep C from casual contact but he was making a not in the chart to have him checked for it at his 1 year appointment in August. He said there was nothing they could do for a baby Jamie's age and that we'd have to go on the assumption that he didn't have it. That worried me. He also said that it was okay to let him hold Jamie but to wash Jamie's hands immidiately after and not to let his great-grandpa kiss him. What scared me the most was how the doctor looked at me when I told him about Matt's grandpa. He asked about what kind of contact and when. I told him we don't see him that often but have eaten at his house on several occasions, he's held him many times, and has kissed on him.
After talking to the doctor I was starting to worry a little. I did go ahead and go to the hospital. I let his great-grandpa hold him. I hovered overhead feeling really uncomfortable. His great-grandpa reached to kiss him and I jerked him away and quickly explained that Jamie had been sick and it wouldn't be a good idea to kiss him right now. I don't think that his great-grandpa knows about his own condition b/c he's been more out of his mind than in it since this all happened. He's dying and when he's lucid he asks for "his boy." My Jamie is named after him. Yesterday, he was quite lucid and I wanted him to be able to say goodbye. It broke my heart to have to take Jamie away when he may never see him again, but the truth is I didn't even want to let him hold him after the way the doctor had reacted. I quickly took Jamie to the bathroom and washed him really well, keeping him from sucking his fingers before I could clean them.
Does anybody have Hep C or have any greater knowledge than I do? Is it really possible that my Jamie could have contracted Hep C with this sort of contact?
Sorry to read about your grandfather. I do not the chances of contracting Hep C from casual contact (like you I thought it was impossible before reading your post) but I do know that a very close friend of our family was diagnosed with it a couple of years ago. They believe she contracted it years ago, before she met her husband or had her children. Everyone in her immediate family was tested and all of them (husband, daughter or son) tested negative. I hope this can help you relax a little bit. Good luck.
I'm sorry about your grandfather, and I'm sorry your doctor is making you worry like this. I'm a nurse and I deal with people with Hepatitis on a regular basis. It is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids. I'm sorry, but I fail to see how a grandpa loving his precious great-grandbaby would cause a problem, as long as your sweet Jamie doesn't have any open wounds. Maybe that's what your doctor was concerned about? In the hospital, we have to start IV's and handle blood and body fluids of people with Hep all the time. We do take precautions, but we do that with everyone. I honestly don't think the casual contact you have will cause any harm to your baby. Hope this helps. You and your family are in my prayers.
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LauraAnn - I found this on the CDC website on Hep C:
"Can HCV be spread within a household?
Yes, but this does not occur very often. If HCV is spread within a household, it is most likely due to direct exposure to the blood of an infected household member."
and
"How can a person protect themselves from getting hepatitis C and other diseases spread by contact with human blood?
Don't ever shoot drugs. If you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program. If you can't stop, never reuse or share syringes, water, or drug works, and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal care articles. They might have blood on them.
If you are a healthcare worker, always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps. Get vaccinated against hepatitis B
Consider the health risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing: You can get infected if:
the tools that are used have someone else's blood on them.
the artist or piercer doesn't follow good health practices, such as washing hands and using disposable gloves.
HCV can be spread by sex, but this does not occur very often. If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner:
You and your partners can get other diseases spread by having sex (e.g., AIDS, hepatitis B, gonorrhea or chlamydia).
You should use latex condoms correctly and every time. The efficacy of latex condoms in preventing infection with HCV is unknown, but their proper use may reduce transmission.
You should get vaccinated against hepatitis B."
With that in mind I would say that as long as Jamie's great grandfather doesn't have any blood in his mouth (cuts, gingivitis, etc) then kissing Jamie (on the cheek maybe) shouldn't be a problem if you wash him afterwards. Saliva alone will not pass Hep C.
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Thanks everyone. The info you guys shared is the same info I read and thought. I wonder why the doctor reacted in such a way. Perhaps he's just being extra cautious. I'm afraid that now I will still feel uncomfortable. TO make matters worse, we have no idea how Pap could have gotten it. He's a preacher and to anyones knowledge he's never been with anyone but hiswife, never used drugs, etc. However, one of his daughters has Hep C. I wondered if she passed it to him or visa versa. I was so secure in my knowledge about the spread of these kind of diseases and now I'm full of doubts.
My mom has Hep C. She got it from a blood transfusion after my little sister was born. That was when I was 5. They found out she had it when I was 29 or 30. She breastfed my little sister. Growing up, we had the bad habit of borrowing her razor, her tweezers, her toe nail clippers, etc. All of us, including my little sister, and my father are completely free of Hep C. The odds of non blood borne transmission are very, very, very low.
Personally, I would agree with Bethers. As long as your grandpa isn't bleeding in the mouth, it should be ok for him to kiss your baby on the cheek. I would wash him off afterwards for peace of mind.
My mom kissed all three of us and my dad about a billion times growing up. If it was likely to transmit that way, at least one of us would be infected.
HTH,
Tracey
If he ever received blood before the 90's, it is very possible he got it through the transfusion. They didn't test the blood supply for it, because they didn't have a test to do so. All it takes is one transfusion of infected blood.
I am glad it helped. Also, I forgot to say, I have a nephew named Mason, who is almost three. My mom kisses on him, and babysits him sometimes with my grandma's help. You just have to take elementary precautions. Wash hands, look for open wounds, etc.
I think drs can be extremely cautious. After all, it is a very serious illness. Plus, a family gp may RARELY have encountered someone infected, and we all know how many drs react to things they aren't used to.
Could My Baby Actually Get Hepetitis C? 
