Perhaps I'm being paranoid here . . .

I was just thinking today that with the world being so disgusting and all that perhaps DD should have a blood test for blood-borne disease? I don't know much about Hepatitis (apart from the fact that one is blood born, one or maybe two arent and Hep A is the one you get over like a flu) but I'm sure that public playgrounds and such don't get cleaned at all. If some kid with something nasty somehow put their saliva onto something and DD managed to get it in her mouth, then she could have caught something . . .

Is there a risk of serious harm from saliva or other germs? Is it routine to have a test for these sorts of things for a toddler? Am I being paranoid? I don't want to google hepatitis or blood-borne disease because I know I'll freak myself out.

Hun most doctors and nurses tell you that if you are concerned, ask. Much better to ask for a test to put your mind at ease than for you to be fretting over it constantly.

It is highly likely that the tset will come back negative, but if you are worried, then ask them to put your mind at ease.

Thanks. She's getting her 18 month vacs on the 11th so I'll ask then. You're right, I should just ask, I guess I just won't want to put DD through unnecessary pain.

From what I understand, most of those diseases don't last long outside the body and most need direct transfer.

If you are concerned, definitely talk to your doctor. They can hopefully put your mind at ease or order the test for you.

Oh, and I have found the antibacterial hand wash is excellent for that sort of thing. I still wash the boys hands as well when we get home but as an interim, this is the best solution for me.

I know it is very hard to catch hep B and C. You need blood on blood contact. Hep A im not too sure. But yes.. i think you are being a little paranoid. But if you want to put your mind at ease, get her tested.

The others are right. It is actually very difficult to contract Hep unless there is direct blood to blood transfer. The amount of saliva needed to be a risk is insane - we're talking buckets and buckets of saliva for it to be a risk.

FWIW, I had a needlestick at work just after taking a patients blood. This patient was Hep C positive. I didn't contract anything.
A friend of mine has managed to slice her hand open whilst passing a surgeon an instrument and (literally) had her hand inside an HIV positive patient at the time, and did not contract anything.

So, it is very hard to contract these diseases in every day life. The biggest risk is for those engaging in sexual activities or sharing injecting equipment (so IV drug uses) who are obviously exposed to blood to blood and bodily fluid transfers.

HTH

MG

It's hard, but don't become too paranoid. The rise in allergies is partly contributed to people being too "clean", using all the antiseptic hand washes etc and not letting kids play with other kids, or at parks etc. Just having an allergy child, (which I think in this case isnt' from beingtoo clean, I had an older sibling, there was no hope of that) but I wouldn't want anyone to get allergies if they can be avoided. They need to build up their immunity.

ALso we chose not to vaccinate against Hep B yet. I feel its' too soon at birth. But also it was never done that early anyway and has only been offered recently. I only got the vaccine to go travelling overseas. It's generally passed through drugs, sex, etc. My DD1 only got it at age 8. If you were spending time in a hospital with sick fam or something, it would be worth getting, ,and there are different cultures with higher incidences.

xoxo

Mumma2three, I think its onyl really offered as a blanket immunisation to cover those in the high risk categories (eg due to culture), who may not normally seek out voluntary immunisation. We also declined at birth, coz we were not the in the high risk categories.