I am a home day care provider and I have a toddler that started last month. My brother- in -law is friends with the toddlers father (his parents are divorced). He told me that the boys mother has hepatitis. What should I do? Should I ask the mother if she has hepatitis and if so how. Is it possible for the toddler to have it? Do I keep him in my daycare? Is there a vaccine my family can get to prevent us from getting it?

I would appreciate suggestions on how to ask the mother if she has hepatitis.

the toddler has been vaccinated by hepb already. however, if the child was born hepb positive, theres a chance the toddler could still be infected.

i have a hunch it is hcv instead....hcv is blood borne only. chances of the little boy infected with hcv is about .03%-.06%.

since hcv is blood borne only, you've only got to worry about keeping sharps out of reach to prevent blood exposure-the other children would somehow have to get this blood into their bloodstream, so it's rather difficult to spread the hcv virus.

sharps are scissors, razors, knives, toothbrushes....basically anything you can get cut on.

i would worry more about the hepatitis b than that of the c since hepatitis b can be spread through all bodily fluids-not just blood like that of hcv.

good luck

p.s. the mention of the "anger" issue is common amongst those with liver disease...virons as well as toxins from the livers inability to filter properly due to liver damage do pass the blood brain barrier. it's not an easy disease.