Aa
Hep C Transmission Question- Help!
My brother is living in a drug treatment facility where there is a high incidence of Hep C. He is concerned because he gets occasional light bleeding from his rectum and the toilet water sometimes splashes up onto him. If someone with Hep C had a bowel movement in that toilet, could he become infected from the water? Can it even survive in flushed toilet water?
Just keep reminding him that transmission requires infected blood (not toilet water or spittle, or any other such liquid) to come in contact with an open wound or to be injected into his own bloodstream. It's really quite rare for it to be transmitted between housemates or even spouses. The only precautions he needs to worry about is to keep his own razor, toothbrush and manicure tools separate - don't leave them in a shared bathroom where an infected housemate might mistakenly use them. Even if they did, the risk would be fairly small, but this one is big enough that it makes sense to try to avoid it.
BTW, I had HCV for 27 years (cured about 1 year ago), was married the entire time and didn't even know I had the virus for a long time, so there were no precautions taken even with spilled blood, and yet my husband never was exposed. This was verified in many tests over the years. Congratulations to your brother for getting treatment for his drug problem!
BTW, I had HCV for 27 years (cured about 1 year ago), was married the entire time and didn't even know I had the virus for a long time, so there were no precautions taken even with spilled blood, and yet my husband never was exposed. This was verified in many tests over the years. Congratulations to your brother for getting treatment for his drug problem!
Hi Lenny and welcome to the forum i tend to agree with Dee on this one My hubby had it for 30 odd years and i have tested on numerous occassions and i have always come back as negetive so i wouldnt worry.I wish you & your brother all the best and tell him from me, well done for going into drug treatment that as took some guts!! Kind regards Jules
Hi Lenny, I have never seen a question like this before. It is interesting.
I do not believe this is possible. In order for him to be exposed there would have to be blood mixing with his blood.
If he is really concerned and wants to put his mind at each he could always bleach the toilet before he uses it.
I would not worry about such things.
I lived with my family for 30 years before I found out I had HCV and never transmitted it to any of them.
Even when I had surgery and my Mom came to stay with us, she did not get it from me.
Good luck
Take Care
I do not believe this is possible. In order for him to be exposed there would have to be blood mixing with his blood.
If he is really concerned and wants to put his mind at each he could always bleach the toilet before he uses it.
I would not worry about such things.
I lived with my family for 30 years before I found out I had HCV and never transmitted it to any of them.
Even when I had surgery and my Mom came to stay with us, she did not get it from me.
Good luck
Take Care
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
