Family Divided

[7dwarf]

My SIL told the family she had Hep C and contracted it thru cutting the hair of an infected person. This did not sound right to me so I questioned it. Of course (since I only married into the family) everyone is mad at me for questioning her. If I'm wrong I will apologize to her in a heart beat but I honestly don't think she contracted it this way from everything I have read on the subject. Since you guys have all dealt with this much more than I have, CAN you contract Hep C this way? Is it at all possible even when no blood was involved?

[iceprincess65]

I'm sorry people, but I am a cosmetologist and believe the same thing and there are many of us in the business with it. It's not the act of "cutting of the hair" it's the open cuts we have on our hands, it's using metal implements on people, eachother & ourselves without the proper sanitation methods, which are not proper safety precautions against the spread of Hepatitis. There are a ton of ways that we can not only contract it in a salon, but can spread it as well, not only to ourselves but between clients.
I would really love to speak to your family member as I am seriously researching this topic, trust me people it is way more possible than you can believe I've been in the business for 24 yrs. and have quit, because I believe it.

[copyman]

great points about what does it really matter how someone got it. don't make a big deal about it and just offer them love & support.

no one really knows all the ways HCV is transmitted. This is such a resiliant disease almost anything is possible.

and yes it is possible from cutting hair IF the stylist/barbar cut you then themself.

[GreatBird]

I think that telling a family one got HCV from a haircut makes it sound like HCV is transmitted easily. It is not. For that reason alone, I think it's important to correct that information. Family members should not feel at risk by touching or cutting hair or sharing dishes or bathrooms or any of that with another family member who has HCV.

There is so much misinformation out there, and I think it adds to the stigma.

[GrandOak]

HCV is strictly a blood bourne viral disease, period, end of story, nothing to suggest otherwise.

However, in the end what does it matter how a person contracted it?

Will it change your ability to provide support and assistance to that person?

Would this be an issue if it was a blood sibling from your immediate family?

Is it simply a matter of being right or is there more deeper down about becoming taking a position in the family to provide the empathy, comfort, and support to another family member?

But perhaps most importantly, is it something which needs to be resolved between your SO and yourself?

Maybe I'm wrong, but these seem to be questions which one may need to look at from a relationship perspective.

[R Glass]

I would like to add that people are to quick to point the finger at IV drug use as the culprit even if the infected person was once an IV drug user. I will use myself as an example.
I “ran” drugs about 30 years ago and automatically assumed; this is how I was infected. Now I am not so sure. I drank almost everyday of those 30 years and was only at stage 1. I find this hard to believe.
Between dentist and life of construction, car wrecks, life in general, I have been around my share of blood and could have contacted it at anytime.
I am really starting to doubt it was from IV drug use.

[WriteItDown]

Yep, we could've just collaborated on one post and saved some bandwidth...  :)