Misunderstanding about transmission.

[Worried252]

Hi! Let me start by saying this website is incredibly useful, thank you all for your help. The information you all give is so useful, which is why I'm here. So let's get to that.

We read everywhere that hep c can live up to 4 days, or 6 weeks, etc etc etc. so that leads me to my question, just because it can live that long, can it infect that long? I find myself constantly afraid of everything I though just because of that fact. I fear that there is infected blood everywhere.

2nd. What is the transmission rate through mucus membranes? I read some places where people (some creditable doctors) say it's so unlikely that they don't even warrant testing, and I read other places where that's just as likely as getting blood in a cut!

Thank you all for any answers, take care.

[Lynn K]

Hep c is difficult to transmit if it was easily transmitted much more than 1% of the population would be infected.

Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream of an uninfected person. This entry would be through an open weeping wet wound not through any membrane.

If fact the virus must basically be pushed into the blood stream. Even in the case where a medical practitioner experiences an accidental needle stick involving a patient with known hep c the risk of transmission is about 1.8%

So while hep c may live on surfaces it still must enter your blood stream.

That is correct about mucous membranes this is not blood entering your blood stream mucous membranes are not directly connected to the blood stream or there would be blood leaving your body through your membranes. So without knowing specifically what you are asking if you should get hep c infected blood in your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or any body cavity unless an open wound exists there would be zero risk.

It is highly doubtful there is hep c infected blood everywhere as only a very small percentage of the population even has hep c and those of us when we had hep c tend to be extreamly careful if we experience an injury.

As I said hep c is difficult to transmit even if there was hep c blood everywhere still it would not matter as it has to enter your blood stream.

Most people do not live in constant concern of contracting a relatively rare, difficult to contract illness that today is very nearly curable.

I would suggest you should discuss your unreasonable fears of contracting hep c or any other illness that you are at no risk of contracting. I feel the single best thing you can do for your health is to work on the medical condition you appear to have anxiety. By treating your anxiety you will go a long way in improving your quality of life.

See your doctor about your anxiety and good luck

[Worried252]

Thank you, that is very useful information. I guess that's what I get for googling things, lol. In regards to a specific question, I suppose I could give an example as to situations that give me problems.

I work a lot around wood, metal, so on and so forth as a carpenter. Everytime I brush up agains wood with my arm, or hit it with my arm/hand by mistake. I always freak out and assume there was infected blood on it, and that I'm now infected! I've found myself lying in bed on so many nights like tonight just thinking about the times I've had some contact, like bumping into wood in someone's attac, and thinking, "wow, what if there was blood on that? Could I be infected?"

[Lynn K]

Are you getting cut openly bleeding?

But again only 1% of the population has hep c and say the example of the accidental needle stick the odds of transmission are 1.8% so you are talking about 1.8% of 1% or about 0.0018% odds of a random event. And really even smaller than that as first of all the assumption that one of that small percentage of the population who has hep c happened to get a bleeding injury and did nothing to clean it up and it was fresh enough to be infective and at a location where you would encounter this. Can you see where I am going here? The odds you are worrying over are next to impossible.

No one worries over these sorts of things about next to nonexistent risks of contracting curable illnesses.

Worry does nothing to prevent tomorrows sorrows it only steals the joy from today.

If you find you cannot let go of these unreasonable fears please speak to a doctor for help with your anxiety.

[Worried252]

Thank you, you're so right. And no, I'm never cut. I think my problem here is much more anxiety than it is Hepatits C. Again, thank you for everything. And when it comes to discussing this with a doctor, I'm just not sure how to approach it. But it seems this is something that will need to be done.

[Lynn K]

Just be honest with your doctor about your feelings and fears. There are medications that can help and also counseling and support groups.

Wishing you health and healing.

[Worried252]

Hello, I'm back with another question. I was out at a restaurant last night and when I got home I noticed I had some dried blood from what looked like a hangnail of something like that. So could I be at risk if theoretically the waitress had some blood on her hands and I got it in that "cut" at any point?

[Lynn K]

No

[Worried252]

So, hypothetically, even if my hangnail began bleeding by scrapping it against something or whatever it may be, and I quickly got infected blood in it, I'd be at no risk?

[Lynn K]

Exceedingly unlikely

Hep c blood must enter your blood stream. Even a healthcare worker who experiences an accidental needlestick involving a patient with known hep infection the odds of transmission are only about 1.8%

Your theoretical contact would not be as signifigant as a needle stick with a microscopic amount of blood had hypothetically come into contact with a very small region of your skin surface. So right there your risk is obviously much lower than an accidental needlestick

Only about 1% of the population has hep c so as far as a random situation and for sake of argument saying the needlestick risk of 1.8% we are discussing 1% of 1.8% so about .018% for a random needlestick and you did not experience a needlestick you are considering a theoretical risk of very low odds that anything even occurred.

This is why my original answer was no.

Have you considered seeking help for anxiety? This it seems is a medical condition you appear to have. Most people do not spend their time concerning themselves with very, very remote possibilities if contracting curable illnesses.

If you want to do something for your health I suggest you consider counseling or treatment for you medical anxiety and fears about contracting illness by near impossible odds.

Wishing you the best of luck

[Worried252]

I have just one more question. When we say, "-access to the bloodstream" does that mean any cut whatsoever? Or does it need to be a deep cut? Etc. for example, would the hangnail being torn off be something like that? And a day or so later, would it still be something that could be an entry point?

[Lynn K]

It has to be an open wound. An open wound is one that wet and weeping not an injury that is covered with a scab.

Entering the blood stream as in for example an injection or other means like a tattoo basically forcing the infected blood underneath the skin surface.

 Hepatitis C is not easily transmitted if it was many, many more people would be infected with a virus. Hep c is a relatively rare virus only effecting about 1% of the population.

 Your odds of catching hepatitis C are less than your odds of wining the lottery.

Please look into getting counseling for your anxiety.

[worried987654]

So when you have an open wound, even then, in order to get an infection, blood still has to be pushed into the bloodstream?

[Lynn K]

Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream. Even a healthcare worker experiences an accidental needle stick involving a patient with know hep c infection the odds of transmission are only 1.8%

Do the math for your situation. If you have concerns get tested for hep c antibodies after waiting at least 12 weeks after a concerning event. Then you will know.

Hep c is not easily transmitted if it were many more than less than 4% of the US population would be infected.