Hepatitis C - does anyone have any experience/advice to give?

[Pinotmum]

I work part-time in a Community Pre-school. We return to work on Monday and will have a new child starting who has Hep C. We have been told just to follow usual H&S procedures as regards any cuts/bleeding incidents e.g wear gloves. We will not be told who the child is btw which is totally understandable. I am not too concerned at this point though some of the staff are rather anxious. Maybe I am being naive? I just wanted to know if anyone has any experience/advice to give that I could pass on. I have visions of children being left to bleed until we have our "protection suits" on - not ideal imho .

Hi - I worked with drug users for many years, many of whom had Hep C. You cannot catch Hep C from normal day to day contact. It primarily infects through blood to blood contact and so the advice about wearing gloves to treat wounds is appropriate (and should probably be followed for each child anyway).

Lots of towns have Hep C support groups and community nurses who specialize in this area. Maybe someone could come in and talk informally to the staff group who will have contact with the child - it might be reassuring ? HTH

Hi, many thanks. Informal chat by a community nurse would be very helpful

Hi pinot. I've been tested for Hep C and from what they told me at the time, they seemed most worried about any blood to blood contact (rather than anything else). I imagine you need gloves for any bleeding person anyway (do you?) so I guess treating this child probably won't be that different.

Good idea about the nurse coming to chat.