Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Have had ears pierced and never been tested for HCV, but could have it? The thought crossed my mind today that people are getting infants pierced as a common practice. What used to be a cultural thing 30 years ago, is now a rite of passage for most girls at least by 10. It seems like the risk would be pretty high for contracting and harboring HCV, HIV and other diseases with mall piecing equipment. In my mind, I was thinking, I've never had body piecing in a skeevy piercing/tattoo shop, so that can't be how I contracted HCV... but I HAVE been pierced! In my ears. Double pierced, two times by a young, sales clerk in a jewelry kiosk. That now sounds kind of risky to me. Even if the studs were sterile (who knows??), I KNOW the gun wasn't, as my boyfriend at the time got his done right before me with the same gun and no cleaning. I am sure that was common practice, and may still be..
Any thoughts on the mall piercing risk factor? And how many people could unknowingly be exposed and just don't know it? Up until finding out I had HCV and trying to figure out HOW and when, the thought would have never crossed my mind. :-(
Any thoughts on the mall piercing risk factor? And how many people could unknowingly be exposed and just don't know it? Up until finding out I had HCV and trying to figure out HOW and when, the thought would have never crossed my mind. :-(
Yeah, I don't think Hep C was even discovered yet when I got pierced back in early 80s, and I know for certain not when I was 7 years old.
The things you never think of. Until it changes your life.
But even dentists - they sterilize equipment, but...is it enough with what is now known???
Would really suck to get re-infected...
EXACTLY!! If I can beat this dragon, that is my biggest fear... :-(
I am now always thinking of potential risk factors... such as dried blood on door knobs and me having a paper cut or hangnail and touching it. HCV infected period blood on toilet flush handles or door knobs of bathroom stalls, or ANYTHING. I am not OCD, it's just that everything has now become a potential threat. I bought a pack of sewing needles the other day, that I am sure have been on some stock room shelf for a long time, but the thought crossed my mind that they COULD potentially be infected if whoever packaged them pricked themselves and then I do too while using them. Knowing that dried blood harbors the virus for so long, and alcohol won't kill it, is scary. I can't tell you how many earrings I have traded or borrowed in the past, but only soaked in alcohol/peroxide and thinking they were being sterilized... :-P
http://blog.aids.gov/2014/01/scientists-discover-hepatitis-c-virus-can-remain-infectious-outside-of-the-body-for-up-to-6-weeks.html