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Had Hair Cut. Barber Used Local Razor. Worried About Hep C. On Hypochondriac. Anxious To Get Antibody Blood Test?
Question: Hello Dr.Grief`
I live in Thailand and in the last month I had received two haircuts at the same filthy barbershop.
The barber used a razor that resembled a blade that you would find at a hardware shop to shave my sideburns and the back of my neck.
Following my last haircut, I recently discovered while searching online about all the Hep infections, that Hep c could be contracted from barbershops and salons.
Have you actually personally known of any cases, that a patient of yours had contracted hep c from a razor or clippers?
I'm paranoid, because as you know, in Thailand, hep a, b, and c are Very common here in S.E.asia!
Please foward me any factual information that backs the possibility of contract Hep c from a razors or clippers!
I am a hypochondriac and I'm anxious to get my antibody blood test for hep c in three weeks.
Thankyou Doctor for your public service.
a hypochondriac in Thailand.
I live in Thailand and in the last month I had received two haircuts at the same filthy barbershop.
The barber used a razor that resembled a blade that you would find at a hardware shop to shave my sideburns and the back of my neck.
Following my last haircut, I recently discovered while searching online about all the Hep infections, that Hep c could be contracted from barbershops and salons.
Have you actually personally known of any cases, that a patient of yours had contracted hep c from a razor or clippers?
I'm paranoid, because as you know, in Thailand, hep a, b, and c are Very common here in S.E.asia!
Please foward me any factual information that backs the possibility of contract Hep c from a razors or clippers!
I am a hypochondriac and I'm anxious to get my antibody blood test for hep c in three weeks.
Thankyou Doctor for your public service.
a hypochondriac in Thailand.
Hello XXXXX,
Thanks for writing in.
This is Dr Vivek answering your question.
Your question is very important and sensible. Please do not call yourself paranoid!
As you may be aware of most of the viral infections are transmitted through a vehicle. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood only.
Coming to your question, please be assured that there is negligible chance of getting Hepatitis C infection if your barber used a new blade in his razor. Nowadays all barbers are instructed to discard blades after single use. You have not mentioned about any cuts that you had from your barber, so let me doubly sure that you are not infected by Hepatitis C through your barber.
Please remember that for a disease like hepatitis C to be transmitted, the following events shuld have occurred:
1. The barber should have used an already used blade on you.
2. He should have used the same blade on a hepatitis C carrier and must cause him a wound enough to allow infected blood onto the blade.
3. He should have used the same blade containing infected blood on you and must cause a bleeding wound to permit the virus to enter into you.
As far I have known, I re assure that I have not come across a single patient who has got infected by Hepatitis C from a barber in my 10 years of experience.
Please insist on your barber using a new blade on every visit.
Please be relaxed, but it is very important to clarify the facts of transmission.
Last but not least, please visit your barber and ask if he uses new blades on each person and reconfirm.
Hope your questions have been answered. Further questions are welcome.
If you do not have any questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
Thanks for writing in.
This is Dr Vivek answering your question.
Your question is very important and sensible. Please do not call yourself paranoid!
As you may be aware of most of the viral infections are transmitted through a vehicle. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood only.
Coming to your question, please be assured that there is negligible chance of getting Hepatitis C infection if your barber used a new blade in his razor. Nowadays all barbers are instructed to discard blades after single use. You have not mentioned about any cuts that you had from your barber, so let me doubly sure that you are not infected by Hepatitis C through your barber.
Please remember that for a disease like hepatitis C to be transmitted, the following events shuld have occurred:
1. The barber should have used an already used blade on you.
2. He should have used the same blade on a hepatitis C carrier and must cause him a wound enough to allow infected blood onto the blade.
3. He should have used the same blade containing infected blood on you and must cause a bleeding wound to permit the virus to enter into you.
As far I have known, I re assure that I have not come across a single patient who has got infected by Hepatitis C from a barber in my 10 years of experience.
Please insist on your barber using a new blade on every visit.
Please be relaxed, but it is very important to clarify the facts of transmission.
Last but not least, please visit your barber and ask if he uses new blades on each person and reconfirm.
Hope your questions have been answered. Further questions are welcome.
If you do not have any questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hello Dr.
No actually the barber appear to have use the same blade "not a flat razor" on my sideburns and back of my neck, on other customers all day long?
But no your right, I wasn't noticeable scratch, but that blade felt as though it was scratching my skin.
And it was a old looking razor too, the kind of blade that a carpenter would maybe use.
Could the hepatitis virus be contracted if it was a close deep shave?
I do buy "negligible chance of infection", but there are reports of the Doctor for another opinion?
Thanks again
No actually the barber appear to have use the same blade "not a flat razor" on my sideburns and back of my neck, on other customers all day long?
But no your right, I wasn't noticeable scratch, but that blade felt as though it was scratching my skin.
And it was a old looking razor too, the kind of blade that a carpenter would maybe use.
Could the hepatitis virus be contracted if it was a close deep shave?
I do buy "negligible chance of infection", but there are reports of the Doctor for another opinion?
Thanks again
Hello,
Thanks for writing in again.
Coming to your questions:
1. There was no cut on your skin with the razor. That means there is absolutely no chance of mixing of blood and it rules out any possibility of transmission of take your own flat blade razor. Please spread the word among your family and friends. I am thankful to you for that.
3. The information provided by me is to the best of my knowledge. I suggest that you consult a gastroenterologist (specialist doctor on liver diseases) in your area to know more about the prevalence of the disease locally and further steps to be taken for prevention. That I guess would surely help.
If you do not have any questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
Thanks for writing in again.
Coming to your questions:
1. There was no cut on your skin with the razor. That means there is absolutely no chance of mixing of blood and it rules out any possibility of transmission of take your own flat blade razor. Please spread the word among your family and friends. I am thankful to you for that.
3. The information provided by me is to the best of my knowledge. I suggest that you consult a gastroenterologist (specialist doctor on liver diseases) in your area to know more about the prevalence of the disease locally and further steps to be taken for prevention. That I guess would surely help.
If you do not have any questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thanks again doctor
My mental disorders sometimes take over my common sense.
And in the back of my mind I knew that it likely that I did not contract any viruses from that blade use by that thai barber.
And yes I have even already made a few friends aware of the needles ofcourse.
My other question for you is.
I'm considering receiving chelation therapy which requires series of intervenious injection of a detoxifying formula.
But I am not sure if I can trust the clinics in thailand to properly sterilize the tubes attached to the I.v..
What would you advise a patient that is seeking this kind of treatment in a country with questionable standards in proper sterilization methods?
What questions should I ask the practioner of the clinic, in regards to correct sterilization methods of the equipment?
Maybe I best have these procedures done in my home country where english is the primary language.
I would rather have chelation therapy In your country, because educated indians speak better english than my own people. As you know, thailand has poor english skills on a national level.
Thanks again Doctor
for your sound answers.
My mental disorders sometimes take over my common sense.
And in the back of my mind I knew that it likely that I did not contract any viruses from that blade use by that thai barber.
And yes I have even already made a few friends aware of the needles ofcourse.
My other question for you is.
I'm considering receiving chelation therapy which requires series of intervenious injection of a detoxifying formula.
But I am not sure if I can trust the clinics in thailand to properly sterilize the tubes attached to the I.v..
What would you advise a patient that is seeking this kind of treatment in a country with questionable standards in proper sterilization methods?
What questions should I ask the practioner of the clinic, in regards to correct sterilization methods of the equipment?
Maybe I best have these procedures done in my home country where english is the primary language.
I would rather have chelation therapy In your country, because educated indians speak better english than my own people. As you know, thailand has poor english skills on a national level.
Thanks again Doctor
for your sound answers.
Hello,
You are most welcome and thanks for writing in again.
Thanks you for spreading awareness about Hepatitis C transmission among your friends.
Coming to your questions:
I would suggest you against getting your chelation detoxification therapy done in some place which is not totally trustable.
If you want to still get it done in the south east, I would suggest you could buy a set of disposable sterilised tubes and needles (of required standards and sizes) from a pharmacy.
If these procedures are closely monitored for setrilisation and hygiene in your own country, that would be the best for you.
Thank you for sharing your opinion about my country and its people.
I would insist that you confirm highest standards of sterilisation and hygiene whereever you get your treatment done.
Hope I have answered your questions.
If you do not have any more questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
You are most welcome and thanks for writing in again.
Thanks you for spreading awareness about Hepatitis C transmission among your friends.
Coming to your questions:
I would suggest you against getting your chelation detoxification therapy done in some place which is not totally trustable.
If you want to still get it done in the south east, I would suggest you could buy a set of disposable sterilised tubes and needles (of required standards and sizes) from a pharmacy.
If these procedures are closely monitored for setrilisation and hygiene in your own country, that would be the best for you.
Thank you for sharing your opinion about my country and its people.
I would insist that you confirm highest standards of sterilisation and hygiene whereever you get your treatment done.
Hope I have answered your questions.
If you do not have any more questions, I request you to please close this thread and post a feedback.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr Vivek
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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