Can Hepatitis B And C Be Contracted Through Scratch By Fingernail?

Posted on Fri, 10 Jun 2016

Question: can you get hepititas b or c from a small fingernail scratch?

Answered by Dr. Naveen Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
find the answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to health care magic, I share your concern and I will try to help you out in best possible way.
One can get Hepatitis B and C through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. It's also possible to get hepatitis B and c by sharing needles or other items used to inject drugs. Getting a tattoo or body piercing with an infected needle is another means of exposure. A mother may pass the virus to her child at birth. In rare cases, unprotected sex spreads hepatitis C, but the risk appears small. Having multiple sex partners, HIV, or rough sex seems to raise risk for spreading hepatitis C.
Hence even if the person who is infected with above said diseases scratches with his finger nail, the chances of getting infected is almost nil, unless the person intentionally dipped his fingernail in his blood and scratched you and the scratch was deep enough to expose underlying tissue, even then the chances are less.
Hope this clarifies your doubts. Revert back to me if you have follow up queries.
Dr. Naveen XXXXXXX
Medical Consultant.
Ebix, Inc.
YYYY@YYYY

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Naveen Kumar (25 minutes later)

it mostly just scratched some surface skin but I did bleed a little tiny bit but not a lot at all. so I don't need any testing for this incident?

Answered by Dr. Naveen Kumar (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
find the answer below.

Detailed Answer:
welcome back,
No there is no need to get tested now. Lets wait for 15 days more, and in the meanwhile if you develop fever, stomach pain or alteration in bowel habits, you can get evaluated by a doctor and get tested if necessary.

Regards
Dr Naveen

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Naveen Kumar (19 minutes later)

what do u mean wait 15 days more? do u think I'm at risk? he is a cook at my work who does wash his hands regularly I have no idea if he has a disease or not. he had no visible blood on his finger nails but I don't know if he had a microscopic amount if say he scratched a scab or somthing and then scratched me. this incident happened in January. and I did get tested for hepititas antibodies and hiv combo test 6 weeks after this incident. I did not get tested because of the incident. it was just routine testing. but now that I got cleared from all disease I developed a phobia and I remembered I got scratched from him and now I'm scared that after I finally got tested and was cleared that now I got a disease from such a small fingernail scratch. I did draw a little blood from the incident but it mostly was just some surface skin I would not say it was deep It stopped bleeding after a couple minutes I didn't even need a bandaid. do you think I should be worried of contracting a disease from this incident. I already spoke with my doctor. he said I was fine. just want a second opinion. thanks

Answered by Dr. Naveen Kumar (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
find the answer below.

Detailed Answer:
welcome again,
Well if you have already undergone testing, and it has turned out negative, then there is absolutely no chance that you will get infected. You can relax and free your mind from any such apprehensions. Wishing you good health.

regards
Dr Naveen

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar