Can dc get hep b from playing with kids? - Page 2

[Jwebbal]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

Hep B is a blood born, not communicable disease.

http://www.hepb.org/hepb/transmission.htm

Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through:

• direct blood-to-blood contact
• unprotected sex
• unsterile needles
• from an infected woman to her newborn during the delivery process.

Other possible routes of infection include sharing sharp instruments such as razors, toothbrushes or earrings. Body piercing, tattooing and acupuncture are also possible routes of infection unless sterile needles are used
Hepatitis B is NOT transmitted casually. It cannot be spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging or eating food prepared by someone who is infected with hepatitis B. Everyone is at some risk for a hepatitis B infection, but some groups are at higher risk because of their occupation or life choices.

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/?page_id=21

A cost-effective analysis for Medical Decision Making titled Should Canada and the United States Universally Vaccinate Infants against Hepatitis B? suggested that universally vaccinating infants regardless of maternal Hepatitis B carriage status would save the US money in comparison to screening and only vaccinating infants of carrier mothers.

You forgot to include "sustained close contact in a household or institution."

There are cases of transmission in households between members who are not doing any of the above, except the one I listed. They actually do not fully understand how Hep B is transmitted, and there is a risk of transmission if you are living with someone with chronic Hep B.

[rhiandmoi]

Originally Posted by Jwebbal

You forgot to include "sustained close contact in a household or institution."

There are cases of transmission in households between members who are not doing any of the above, except the one I listed. They actually do not fully understand how Hep B is transmitted, and there is a risk of transmission if you are living with someone with chronic Hep B.

:
This is why I'm vaccinated.

[Baby_Vol]

Well, according to the CDC themselves, this is how hep B is spread:

Transmission: Contact with infectious blood, semen, and other body fluids from having sex with an infected person, sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs, or from an infected mother to her newborn.

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.htm

I'm not vaxed, and I don't go around worrying about it. I also don't go around worrying about if DS is going to catch HIV from some other child (and it is transmitted the same way).

No, we will not vax against Hep B.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Jwebbal

You forgot to include "sustained close contact in a household or institution."

There are cases of transmission in households between members who are not doing any of the above, except the one I listed. They actually do not fully understand how Hep B is transmitted, and there is a risk of transmission if you are living with someone with chronic Hep B.

We are speaking of playmates not household contacts. In anycase, being a household contact does not change how it is transmitted (which I say everytime you bring it up). Several studies I have read have found spouses of chronic hep b carriers generally have a higher instance of certain antibodies, but do not develop chronic hep b. The household contacts recommendation seems to be precautionary based on a greater opportunity for the standard transmission risks to occur, but that recommendation is never followed up with something like "the rate of chronic hepatitis b has been found to be % more likely in spouses, % likely in children not infected at birth, and % more likely in other adults living in the household."

And really, what about the human body and disease is "fully understood"? You make you decision based on the information that is available, and apparently your decision is to vax for hep b.

[Jen_in_NH]

Originally Posted by DevaMajka

I forgot about the Pink Book

So... as a follow up question, do you (general you) get this vax for your kids, or recommend that others get it?

Both DH and I have the vaccine, and we did get it for our son. We're both firefighter / paramedics, so there is the potential for exposure through a needle stick. DH has Hep C from a blood transfusion years ago, so that thought is always in the back of our minds, even though I know the screening is better now.

Routinely, I wouldn't do it. I think we have some odd circumstances.

As for the kids playing, it would be highly unlikely to be passed that way. The biting would be the biggest concern. To be bitten isn't the problem - to be the biter is the exposed person.

[_betsy_]

This is one I didn't have to fight my ped about refusing. I said "Uh, Hep B, that's sexually transmitted, right?"

She smiled, nodded, and didn't press the issue. She's generally quite gung-ho about vaxes.

So I asked why in the world babies would routinely be vaxed for it. She said "Honestly? Because they're here, in the office, a lot when they're babies and it needs three doses." Not because there's any chance for casual transmission.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by DevaMajka

I forgot about the Pink Book

So... as a follow up question, do you (general you) get this vax for your kids, or recommend that others get it?

Nope, nope, nope. In fact, my military midwife when I was pregnant with my ds even said she never gets it for her children until they are older because until then it's useless.

[mommyto3girls]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

This is one I didn't have to fight my ped about refusing. I said "Uh, Hep B, that's sexually transmitted, right?"

She smiled, nodded, and didn't press the issue. She's generally quite gung-ho about vaxes.

So I asked why in the world babies would routinely be vaxed for it. She said "Honestly? Because they're here, in the office, a lot when they're babies and it needs three doses." Not because there's any chance for casual transmission.

This is exactly what we were told when investigating Sierra's death. In fact, at that time (and may still be happening) hospitals were paid a bonus
per newborn that they vaccinated before being discharged after birth. This was on top of the normal reimbursement from insurance or private pays. A totally seperate payout from the gov't