Question
Was at a halloween party the other night and some psycho (not our psycho) wanted to beat me up. While defending myself (no physical contact was ever made), he spit in my face, and ran away plucking like a chicken. He was lucky that security came along to save him, but now I'm concerned about Hepetitas C. I talked with my doctor about it, and later told her that I'm going to the Middle East in December so I can get the right shots. She told me right off the bat that I would need a HC shot 1 month prior to going at the very least, but preferrably 2 months. It never occurred to me that I might need one for what happened the other night though. What do you think? I most definetely plan to call her Monday. At any rate, I can't go out on any slamming sprees because I'm sick with the flu right now. (would you believe that they actually offered me a flu shot the day I became sick?:mad
Erik.
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Answer
Erik,
It is HIGHLY unlikely that a Hepatitis C exposure such as you describe is enough for you to contract the disease. It is most often spread through direct contact with blood and blood by products. IV drug users and those with multiple sexual partners are high risk for transmission too.
Now, the potential is there for exposure, but unless you had an open wound on your face or his saliva went in your eyes, up your nose, or in your mouth, the probability is slim.
I checked the website for the Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov and they DO NOT recommend giving immune globulin for post-exposure. They also do not indicate that there is a vaccine for Hep C, D, or E. There are vaccines for Hep A and B though. The vaccine for Hep B is a series of 3 injections. The second one is given 1 month after the first one and the third is given 6 months after the first one.
You can ask your physician to do lab tests to see if this exposure has transmitted the virus, but it should be done 1 month after the exposure and again in 4 months.
BTW, the guy IS probably the one who gave you the flu, though.
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Keeping you safe, healthy, and on the road.
Nurse Red
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