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Any Risk of HCV transmission

I was involved in a fist fight. The guy first punched my face. I then punched him back in the face. I probably punched his teeth that caused a minor bruise in my index finger knuckle and a cut in my middle finger knuckle. I might gave the guy another blow in his face afterward. I did not notice the guy had any severe facial bleeding (no bloody nose or teeth). I have a habit of carrying rubbing alcohol with me at all time. Approximately two to three minutes after the fight, I sanitized my hands and my knuckle with rubbing alcohol. I noticed my middle finger knuckle had a cut but skin was still intact. I peeled off this loose skin and then sanitized the open cut on my knuckle with more rubbing alcohol, but I only felt a slight sting after applied rubbing alcohol to the opening. Later I washed the cut with water and then it start to bleed more and to hurt more.

It appeared the cut on my knuckle was not severe and the guy did not have any visible nose and teeth bleeding. It seemed there were no "visible" blood contact or exchange. But I am worry the possibility any of his blood in microscopic proportion that were not detected by my naked eye entered my bloodstream thru the cut on my knuckle. Did I expose myself to high risk to contract HCV from this unpleasant instance? Should I get tested?

How much blood exchange is required to cause HCV tramission?

I sincerely appreciate your advice. I am worry sick and cannot sleep and function properly. Thank you very much for answering my questions.
Best Answer
1747881 tn?1546175878
How is HCV transmitted?

HCV is transmitted primarily through large or repeated percutaneous (i.e., passage through the skin) exposures to infectious blood, such as

•Injection drug use (currently the most common means of HCV transmission in the United States)
•Receipt of donated blood, blood products, and organs (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening became available in 1992)
•Needlestick injuries in health care settings
•Birth to an HCV-infected mother

HCV can also be spread infrequently through

•Sex with an HCV-infected person (an inefficient means of transmission)
•Sharing personal items contaminated with infectious blood, such as razors or toothbrushes (also inefficient vectors of transmission)
•Other health care procedures that involve invasive procedures, such as injections (usually recognized in the context of outbreaks)

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5.

What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?
Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm#cFAQ31

If you are going to live your whole life in fear of contracting hep c from day to day life, or tiny specs of blood you can't see, then I suggest that you seek professional help for your anxiety issue's

Have a great day
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your insightful advice. I feel much better now. Still, I will get tested after 10 weeks time. Thanks again
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you very much for your advice.

There were no visible blood on my hand or on his face. The scratch on my knuckle was superficial. After peel off the skin and a hard squeeze, tiny amount of blood came out. Can microscopic (not detectable by naked eye) amount of blood be infectious? If so, how could I prevent day to day body contact with strangers who might have a cut from transmitting HCV to me?

Helpful - 0
1747881 tn?1546175878
No one here can accurately assess your risk, only give you opinions as there are no stats on the transmission of hep c from fist fights, hep c is spread from blood to blood contact.

IMO, maybe a very slight risk but doubtful, if your worried wait the proper amount of time and get tested.

How soon after exposure to HCV can anti-HCV be detected?

HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests (enzyme immunoassay) 4–10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in >97% of persons by 6 months after exposure.

How soon after exposure to HCV can HCV RNA be detected by PCR?

HCV RNA appears in blood and can be detected as early as 2–3 weeks after infection.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/HCVfaq.htm#c5.

Have a great day
Helpful - 0
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