Thanks for your replies Isiscat2011 and Mugsy. I'm not too worried that they have it, especially now that medicine has come so far in treating the disease. I think I will wait until they need blood taken for something else and throw a viral load or antibody test in there as well :)
I think that is a very reasonable approach. Also, the new DAAs haven't been tested in children <18, so it will be awhile before we know more about this.
tgcd78 said
Aug 12, 2014
Thanks for your replies Isiscat2011 and Mugsy. I'm not too worried that they have it, especially now that medicine has come so far in treating the disease. I think I will wait until they need blood taken for something else and throw a viral load or antibody test in there as well :)
Mugsy said
Aug 12, 2014
For what it's worth, I was HepC positive for at least 10 years before my first baby was born. When each turned 18 they were tested and no one had it and neither did Husband 1 or Husband 2. In my untrained opinion, I'd take a deep breath, trust things are ok and wait until they are older if you still want to test them. I think we take on a lot of unnecessary guilt with this disease and we do not need the added stress. Just my opinion.
Isiscat2011 said
Aug 12, 2014
Hi tgcd78:
I don't think there is any way to test for HepC without drawing blood but a good pediatrician knows how to handle this situation without traumatizing the child. Testing isn't generally recommended until they are >3 years of age and after that it becomes an individual decision.
My PCP faced this dilemma because his young daughter received multiple blood transfusions before hospitals were screening for HCV. He opted not to test until she was 18 but that was back when tx options were so limited. I expect his opinion has changed with the emergence of the new DAAs.
Here is some good information about HCV and kids: http://www.liverfoundation.org/chapters/rockymountain/doctorsnotes/pediatrichcv/
tgcd78 said
Aug 12, 2014
I have two kids that I conceived with active chronic HepC. Now that I am on the road to SVR I want to see if my family is all clear. My husband never got it but I'm not sure if my kids did. How do I go about getting them tested? My children will never ever sit still for a blood draw. Never.
I think that is a very reasonable approach. Also, the new DAAs haven't been tested in children <18, so it will be awhile before we know more about this.
Thanks for your replies Isiscat2011 and Mugsy. I'm not too worried that they have it, especially now that medicine has come so far in treating the disease. I think I will wait until they need blood taken for something else and throw a viral load or antibody test in there as well :)
For what it's worth, I was HepC positive for at least 10 years before my first baby was born. When each turned 18 they were tested and no one had it and neither did Husband 1 or Husband 2. In my untrained opinion, I'd take a deep breath, trust things are ok and wait until they are older if you still want to test them. I think we take on a lot of unnecessary guilt with this disease and we do not need the added stress. Just my opinion.
Hi tgcd78:
I don't think there is any way to test for HepC without drawing blood but a good pediatrician knows how to handle this situation without traumatizing the child. Testing isn't generally recommended until they are >3 years of age and after that it becomes an individual decision.
My PCP faced this dilemma because his young daughter received multiple blood transfusions before hospitals were screening for HCV. He opted not to test until she was 18 but that was back when tx options were so limited. I expect his opinion has changed with the emergence of the new DAAs.
Here is some good information about HCV and kids: http://www.liverfoundation.org/chapters/rockymountain/doctorsnotes/pediatrichcv/
I have two kids that I conceived with active chronic HepC. Now that I am on the road to SVR I want to see if my family is all clear. My husband never got it but I'm not sure if my kids did. How do I go about getting them tested? My children will never ever sit still for a blood draw. Never.