I work in a retail environment. A customer that is 100% confirmed to have the disease, who is also on drugs, came into the store. I was within close proximity to the customer, handled and accepted money that the customer gave me. I used hand sanitizer immediately following the transaction, and shortly after washed my hands. Is it possible that somehow interacting with this individual, that I have contracted the virus? No visible blood was on the customer or myself. I am more worried that somehow the customer's saliva landed on me while I was within proximity. I am something of a hypochondriac...what do you think?
Is it possible I contracted hepatitis from a customer? Should I be worried?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by Rastaflag
- Topics:
- health, disease, worried, hepatitis c
Details:
Answers (1)
I presume you are talking about Hepatitis C (not A or B)
Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact. It is highly infectious and can survive outside the body for more than seven days. Those most at risk of hepatitis C are people who:
Have injected drugs (even if only once)
Have received a tattoo or body piercing using unsterile equipment
Lived or received medical attention in a high-risk country (South East Asia, China, Eastern Europe (including Russia), or the Middle East)
Had a blood transfusion or received blood products prior to 1992
Have ever been in prison
Were born to a mother living with hepatitis C.
You would not get hepatitis C by just talking to someone or exchanging money/products at the shop. :-)