My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

She is awesome, and she mentioned it to me b/c she was telling me about her brother and how he has diabetes...it led into her saying that she can't donate blood to anyone b/c she has hepatitis. Should I be worried??

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would be. Which hepatitis does she have?

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would be (sorry). I would need to know what type she has. If it was Hep B, yes definitely.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I think it depends on what type of hep she has- A, B or C...
I think B and C are the most common- A happening most frequently in developing countries...
I wouldn't worry too much about B or C- A i think is a little more contagious b/c it's found in the stool of infected person and I guess if that person doesn't wash hands well then it could spread- but- again, don't really hear of many people in the STates that have Hep A.

Here's what I found about B&C:
Hepatitis B

Spread of the virus that causes hepatitis B (HBV) occurs when a bodily fluid of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. So, HBV spreads by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles for drugs, steroids, piercing, or tattooing, infected sharps, or from mother to baby during birth.

People at-risk of developing hepatitis B include:

People with multiple sex partners
Men who have sex with men
Sex contacts of infected persons
Injection drug users
Household contacts of chronically infected people
Babies from infected mothers
Health care and public safety workers
Hemodialysis patients
People immigrating from areas of the world with many cases
Persons at-risk of hepatitis B might also be at risk of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C

Spread of the virus that causes hepatitis C (HCV) occurs when a bodily fluid of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. This is similar to the spread of the virus that causes hepatitis B. So, HCV spreads by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles for drugs, steroids, piercing, or tattooing, infected sharps, or from mother to baby.

People at-risk of hepatitis C include:

Injecting drug users
Hemodialysis patients
Recipients of blood and/or organs before 1992
People with undiagnosed liver problems
Babies born from infected mothers
Health care and public safety workers
People having sex with multiple sexual partners
People having sex with an infected partner

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would be extremelly worried. Sorry! Which type?

So no sharing of spoons. She cannot lick her fingers and wipe DD's mouth with the same fingers, etc....

Message edited 3/24/2008 4:46:39 PM.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

it depends on which one she has.... one is contagiuos and one is not i dont remeber which but a friend had it and she couldnt share drinks but that was about it!! also had to be carfeul with sex.. but you shouldnt have to worry about that..

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Just for the record, they are ALL contagious.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would definitely be concerned. When you read that it can be spread by body fluid of the infected person entering the body fluid of someone else... here is what immediately came to my mind...

DS constantly puts his hands all over my face, his fingers get jammed in my mouth... then he takes his fingers and puts them into his mouth. I would think that he is getting a little bit of my saliva in him at that point (gross I know, but for the sake of this thread, totally relevant!)

Have you thought about what you are going to do?

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would speak with your ped... if your ped says it's dangerous- then you'll have to find someone else... I think that is where I'd start for advise.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Oh lord I would be VERY worried

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would be...

B and C are the ones people have for life, which is what she likely has... Hep A is a food-borne illness one and people recover and then become immune.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Not knowing her I cant say for sure how I would feel...

Im making an assumption and guess that she has Hep C..which is a condition that she will have to live with for the rest of her life...

Again I dont know her but Im sure she has taken the appropriate measures to insure the safety of those around her...

DD has already been vaccinated againest Hep B and she will be receiving a Hep A vaccine at about 12 months...She is, in general, not at risk of contracting Hep C from casual contact.

Perhaps for piece of mind speak to her regarding her condition and ask her what measures she takes to insure the safety of others..you might want to speak to your pediatrician who can explain the different types and the differences between acute and chronic Hepatitis...

Message edited 3/24/2008 5:10:22 PM.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I would worry why she didn't tell you when you hired her. That is very important information. I would ring a local daycare centre and ask if they hire people with hepatitis.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

wow
I would talk to the ped.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Considering the manner in which hepatitis is contracted, I personally wouldn't be worried. As for calling daycares to see if they hire people with the condition, since it's against the law for an employer to ask someone if they have hepatitis, just like it is to ask them if they have HIV and any other medical condition, I don't think they will be able to give you an answer on that.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Thanks for all your replies.

She watches one of my friends kids and has even watched Gov Corzine's kids for years (not anymore, but a few years ago)...she comes highly recommended. I will ask her what type of Hepatitis she has....and then ask the Ped when I go.

She is from Costa Rica...not sure if that matters, but it is a developing country, right? Anyway....she only watches DD for 3 hours a week, but it's obviously very important that I find out exactly what kind she has....I'll let you all know what I find out.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

B and C are the ones you should most worry about but B has a vaccination C doesn't so I am far more afraid of C as a health care worker and would be as a parent. Other heps tend to be found in conjunction with Hep B or C and can't live without them or are food borne illnesses that through treatment and meds will "clear" the system and are not to be worried about.
I would find out more about it-as a caregiver I would say there is always a possibility of getting a cut... and these illnesses are passed by blood so there is always concern in that respect but it is RARE to pass something like this easily like HIV but I guess you never know. Before acting upon anything find out more though.

Message edited 3/24/2008 8:29:08 PM.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

I hate to say it, but I would look for someone new. I mean, when my kids are involved I am a little over protective.

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

Re: My nanny just told me in a casual conversation that she has hepatitis....

It's a good to talk to your pediatrician, but I expect that they'll reassure you.

Hepatitis A is pretty contagious, but that's almost certainly not what she has (it never becomes a chronic condition). Kids actually catch it all the time in day care and such, and are usually asymptomatic. There's also a vaccine for it now.

Hepatitis B and C can be come chronic. Both are very common in other countries. Off hand, I'd guess probably she has hepatitis B, which in other countries is often spread from mother to child before birth. There is a vaccine for it, which is part of the routine vaccinations that most kids get starting soon after birth. If you want to ask her if that's what she has, it might set your mind at ease.

But, as other people have said, it's very hard to catch either hepatitis B or C. The main ways in the US are through injection drug use and sex. You cannot catch it from being around people, touching them, kissing them, putting things in their mouth, etc. I have a cousin who's had hepatitis C for decades, and neither his wife nor his teenage daughter has caught it.

As far as some of the comments being posted on this thread... it's natural to be worried for our kids. But it's also important not to jump to conclusions. Discriminating against someone based on a health condition is still discriminating, and it's still unfair.