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Expert Q&A:
Is it okay for a 9-month-old to be around someone who has hepatitis C?

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Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
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Question


Is it okay if my 9-month-old baby is around a person who has hepatitis C? My sister-in-law had hepatitis C but she's been around my baby since she was born. I'm really concerned about this issue.

Answer


Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that often becomes chronic and can lead to complications down the line. In general, the disease is transmitted by exposure to another's blood or through sexual activity. So it seems unlikely that your baby is at much risk for this infection. Some studies show that transmission to household members, through contact with secretions and blood as in injuries, is small, occurring in about 4 percent of household members. Other studies say there is no risk to household members except through sexual contact.If your sister-in-law has just limited contact with the baby, the transmission risk is very, very small. Careful management of cuts and scrapes and avoiding sharing of toothbrushes or razors are some of the ways to protect all household members from getting this infection. Everyone in the household of a patient should be evaluated. Ifyou or others have acquired the disease, you could be a risk for the infant as well. Ask your child's health care provider or call your local public health department for more specific information and direction based on the particulars of your situation. Blood products are now, since 1992, checked for hepatitis C, so that route of infection in this country has been stopped. Fortunately, this is usually a much milder disease than hepatitis B, for which we now have an excellent vaccine. A vaccine for hepatitis C may be available in the future.
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