Hepatitis C`?

ok so i have an eight year old son and he is going to be on his summer break soon....i live in kansas and my dad lives in arizonia.....he wants me to fly out my son for a coupple of weeks during the summer. My dad has hep C AND a skin disorder which cause his skin to tear eaisily......he lives in the county and has horses and other animals.......so that bein said it would be easy for eaither of them to get cut.....or scrached.....my dad is very much so in denial about having hep C since him and my mom split up........i am sick to death about letting my son go this summer ....i dont want him to get the hep c .......what should i do ???? its not something we talk about .....and if i decide not to let him go ......what do i say to my dad.....without hurting him......i would love to go with so i could watch over him but i cannot get off of work???? im at a loss!!!!!

Hepatitis C`?
Hepatitis C isn't actually spread that easily, you know. Certainly not through casual contact, it really does need blood to blood contact. You really do need to speak with your father about the precautions he would need to take. I'm sure if it means the difference between being able to spend time with his grandson or not, he would be willing to do what is needed. Which isn't actually that much, really. He would need to keep fresh scratches or cuts bandaged, and not allow your son to touch them. He would also want to use a disinfectant to clean surfaces regularly, just to be on the safe side. Any decent household cleaner will fit that bill, though one with bleach would be best, bleach itself if nothing else. Given the age of your son, he should have recieved Hepatitis B injections as a baby/toddler, and that's the only other precaution he'd need. At 8, he won't be dependable to take any precautions himself, but you can explain to him that he needs to not let Grandpa's blood get on him. It's restricted to the blood, so a hug or kiss is perfectly okay. As long as you can get your dad to agree to the precautions, then I'd say it would be fine. As a mom I understand your wish to keep your son safe, but as a nurse I work with this regularly and know it's not a big thing to fear as far as it being that contagious. Your son has a lot to be gained from time with Grandpa, and both of them might really be resentful if you just dismiss the chance without trying to arrange sensible precautions first. If your father is willing to do what is needed, and you feel comfortable that he will, then I'd say let the boy go for a few weeks. If you want to speak with a professional and get some better idea of things, talk with your son's pediatrician as well. Sometimes that helps you put things in better perspective, and at least make an informed decision rather than one made out of fear alone. Good luck, and I hope you can work something out. I just wish my kids could spend time with their grandparents- but we don't have that kind.
Reply:I may be wrong, but I don't think Hep C is contagious. I worked with someone with Hep C %26amp; that was never a concern. I've been through First Aid %26amp; CPR training and there were never conversations regarding Hep C, it was generally using precautions from the spread of AIDS. The way you are talking reminds me of the talk that went around when AIDS came out several years ago.


Do you have any reason to believe your dad would cause your son harm? Does your dad know and understand his disease? Does your dad know %26amp; understand how to protect others from anything that is infecious? Does your Mom still live near your Dad. Is so, could you send your son to your Mom's instead %26amp; she could take him over them for several short visits.
Reply:*this must be so tough for you.just be honest with your dad.tell him that he is welcome to visit but you are worried about your son getting hep c from him.perhaps he can re-assure you,i hope it all works out well.perhaps your son can be vaccinated against it.look at the web site.


CDC: Viral Hepatitis C


Includes information on hepatitis C prevention, testing, and risk factors, and management of HCV infection.


www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/...

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