[Question #5678] Hepatitis
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73 months ago
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Good day, sirs.
How easily is Hepatitis B/C spread? I’ve read online that it can be spread through fluids like saliva, not just blood.
Thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
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Hepatitis B and C are different viruses and are spread in somewhat different ways.
Hepatitis B can be spread through injection into the blood such as with shared needles and through genital and ano-genital sexual intercourse. There are no data to suggest that is is spread in saliva or through kissing. Hepatitis B can be prevented with the highly effective hepatitis B vaccine which has been routinely given to children born in the Unitited States since 1992.
Hepatitis C is even harder to transmit. It is largely transmitted through injections and needles stick and less commonly but occasionally through receptive ano-genital intercourse. There are no data to suggest that it is transmitted by saliva. There is not yet a vaccine for hepatitis C.
I hope that this information is helpful. EWH
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73 months ago
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Thank you. I was wondering if frottage was a risk for either or if saliva would be.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
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No, there is no risk for acquisition of hepatitis B or C from frottage or contact of any sort with saliva. These are safe activities. EWH---
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73 months ago
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Last question sir.
I’ve been feeling nauseated for a few weeks so To ease my mind i took an HIV, Hep B and Hep C blood test this week which is about 7 weeks since the potential exposure referenced in previous thread.
The Results came back :
-negative for HIV,
-negative for Hep B
-reactive/negative (<0.1) for Hep C. Antibody
Is 7 weeks long enough post exposure for these to be detected by contemporary tests? In other words how confident should I be in these results?
Thank you.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
73 months ago
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Nausea is not a typical symptom of STIs but it may reflect your anxiety about the possibility of having been infected. The results of the tests you list are all conclusive and should be believed.
I hope the information I have provided has been helpful to you. As I suspect you are aware, we provide up to three responses to each person's questions. This is my 3rd response. Thus this thread will now be closed without further responses. Take care. EWH
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