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Can An Infant Be Around Chemotherapy Patients?

Posted on Mon, 17 Apr 2017

Question: What precautions should be taken if a family member is undergoing chemo and there is a baby at home.

I read that the chemo medicine can stay in the body for 48 to 72 hours and can get excreted through urine, saliva, vomit and sweat. This could be dangerous for anyone in the family and especially for babies.

My main concern here is the sweat because anything touched by them(through a sweat hand) can be used by babies or anyone in the family.

Do I really need to worry about this?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry much

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

I fully understand your concerns. But the amount of chemo secreted in sweats is miniscule, if at all. Mostly it is in urine or stool, depending on the drug. There is no recommendation for barrier precautions in family members after chemo.

Hence you need not worry about a child being near to the patient.

Hope this helps.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (28 minutes later)

Thanks for the response. Patient is undergoing 4 rounds of TC chemo.

And the baby is just 10 month old and hence the concerns. Any precautions you recommend?

Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No special precautions

Detailed Answer:
For the family members and the baby I don't recommend any special precautions

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad