What is a blood oath...or blood brothers..what are the risks of doing this..other then hiv or hep C?
87550
blood brothers are an interesting concept - whilst the small amount of blood shared is unlikely to cause any transfusion reactions - it may transmit HIV or Hepatitis, but there is a strange case in Switzerland where a group of girls developed antibodies despite never having been transfused or pregnant/ it was eventually discovered that they had had a blood sisters pact and shared each others blood and had subsequently developed red cell antibodies to the blood they had mixed.
1024235
It's just a question of the Hippocratic oath.  "First Do No Wrong"  Would you want to be stuck with a dirty needle at any time?  I hope you never have to find out.  Dying this way is very sad and not something to make fun of.
1064679
Although tests for infectious diseases, blood donor screening, and autologous blood donations have made blood transfusions safer today than in the past, scientists say that new technologies hold the key to a completely safe blood supply in the future. Blood donor screening and blood tests have made infection by HIV and other viral diseases extremely rare, but infections still occur during the "window period" between infection and antibody production, which eludes current testing techniques. Patients can give their own blood--autologous donations--for elective surgery, but most people cannot take advantage of this procedure. As soon as blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus are elimated from the blood supply, another infectious agent will appear. Recombinant human erythropoietin eliminates the need for transfusions, but researchers are looking increasingly to blood filtering and washing techniques and blood substitutes such as recombinant human hemoglobin to ensure complete safety of the blood supply.yes you can through the ; window period;
490076
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/wwwboard.html\ncheck out this chat board, sign up and ask questions. ;)
256727
Here is a little information on it. Take it very seriously. \n\nHepatitis C, formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis, is also transmitted by contaminated blood transfusions and by sharing of needles among drug abusers, although in many cases no source can be identified. It is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the United States. Many of those infected have no symptoms but become carriers, and the virus may eventually cause liver damage. Blood banks routinely screen for hepatitis C. Alpha-interferon is used also to treat hepatitis C, in combination with the drug ribavirin.
223671
Very carefully... blood "dis -cray -shas".  Good luck!
742224
Nope,\nYou can only get HIV through blood, including blood transfusion, and sex (anal, oral, and vaginal).  If you are a heroine user and you shoot up the drug through a needle, and you have HIV virus, and someone else uses that same needle they can also contract the virus as well.  Those are the only ways.
68230
In truth, the risk of transmission to co-workers or other household members seems to be quite low, and even sexual transmission is rare. The CDC recommends the use of sexual prophylactics by anyone infected with hepatitis C or any other sexually transmissible disease, but common contact is not dangerous. While it should be kept in mind that there is no known mode of transmission for approximately 10% of cases, this should not be taken as a statement that it can be easily casually acquired. Routine precautions around blood, and avoiding the sharing of toothbrushes, razors, and other personal items should provide adequate protection.\n\n\n\nA number of agents can cause hepatitis, including infectious diseases, chemical poisons, drugs and alcohol. Hepatitis C is a contagious viral disease that leads to serious, permanent liver damage, and in many cases, death.\n IV drug users represent the largest single risk group.  Sexual contact has been clearly identified as a means of transmitting hepatitis C.  Household contact with another household member that has hepatitis C has also been strongly implicated, and this, in combination with heterosexual exposure, is believed to be responsible for approximately 13% of all infections.  Around 2% of all cases of hepatitis C are thought to be contracted through the occupational risk (needle-stick injuries, blood spills, etc) involved with the health care profession.\n\nPrisoners have enormous incidence of infection - rates reported in some California prisons exceed 80%, with certain institutions reporting nearly 100% of their prisoners infected.\n\nSome skin piercing practices, notably tattooing, body piercing, and acupuncture, have contributed significantly to the spread of HCV, particularly in less industrialized nations. Tattooing in particular poses a serious risk. Even in the presence of good sterilization, studies have suggested that the ink used in tattooing can become contaminated and transmit the virus.\n\nCocaine users have an abnormally high risk of infection due to the fact that they frequently share snorting straws, which may have small amounts of blood-carrying mucous on them. \n\nLess obvious, specialized risk factors have been identified resulting from indirect exposures to blood - including manicures, shared toothbrushes and razors, and straight razors in barber shops.\n\nIn many surveys, about a third of people who are alcoholics are also infected with the HCV virus.
507843
Absolutely not!  HIV dies upon contact with air in 30 seconds.  Now, hepatitis is a different story...it can live up to 2 weeks in dried blood!!!  Spooky.
1141532
This is what I have to say about tattoos. Honey, you can get Hepatitis C from it. It is the most rampant cause of cirrhosis of the liver. There is a treatment for Hepatitis C, but only 50% of those infected will respond to given treatment; the rest get liver disease and die. I also just got my blood drawn yesterday to see if I have Hepatitis C. You see we just found out 4 days ago that my husband has it and that I could also have it because I have slept with him. It's no small matter. I'm sitting here scared wondering what the results will be. I hope my test results come back negative. Please pray for me. I also hope for your sake that you choose not to get the tattoo; it's just not worth it. :(\n\nAdditional Note: A lot of people say it's fine if you get it done at a sanitary professional place. What they don't tell you is it doesn't matter how sanitary it is because part of the ink that is used goes back into the ink vials. To show you what I mean...imagine drinking out of a straw. Part of the liquid in the straw goes back into the glass when you are finished. It may be a very small amount; however, it is the same concept with the clean needles and ink vials when people get tattoos. Once you get Hepatitis C you have to get interferon shots 3 times a week for 6-18 months and there is no guarantee that it will work or that you won't relapse. I sure hope my test comes back negative. I will just hate it if it doesn't, and it's so sad that my husband has this. We have an appointment set up with his doctor in a couple weeks to go over his treatment plan. I think people that get tattoos are crazy!!!!
1052934
HCV is transmitted through blood to blood contact. Getting it from sex is rare and it may be from something else. I have HCV and live with my family-2 other adults and 2 teenagers. I don't share my plate when eating and they know to stay away from combs, toothbrushes, and shavers. As far as I'm aware no one has gotten the virus from me in the 23 years I've had it. It's a case of following proper hygiene and not sharing anything that could have blood on it. Be especially careful of IV drugs and tatoos. Everything must be sterile to not catch it from someone who has it. At my house we really don't do anything special, except I keep my drinks in old gatorade bottles, so everyone knows they're mine.
194381
ALWAYS WEAR A CONDOM AND NEVER HAVE SEX THAT INVOLVES ANYONES BLOOD! DON"T DO DRUGS INTERVENSIOULY AND MOST DEFINATELY NEVER NEVER SHARE A NEEDLE!! TO BE A CARRIER YOU DO HAVE HIV BUT YOU DON"T KNOW YOU ARE INFECTED! If IN DOUBT ASK THIS PERSON IF THEY HAVE FREQUENT SEX WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND IF THEY GIVE AN HONEST ANSWER YOU'LL HAVE AN iDEA AND IF IT WAS A ONE NIGHT AFFAIR AND YOU'LL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN YOU'LL HAVE AN IDEA AND THAT IS TO BE TESTED NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE. WEAR YOUR RAINCOAT FROM NOW ON!!!
473525
"If you had hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) caused by a virus, or unexplained jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin), since age 11, you are not eligible to donate blood. This includes those who had hepatitis with Cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), the virus that causes Mononucleosis. \n\nAcceptable if you had jaundice or hepatitis caused by something other than a viral infection, for example: medications, Gilbert's disease, bile duct obstruction, alcohol, gallstones or trauma to the liver. \n\nIf you ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C , at any age, you are not eligible to donate, even if you were never sick or jaundiced from the infection."\n\nhttp://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,00.html
1084196
If they have hepatitis B & C it is safe to visit them as long as you don't swap body fluids or engage in any activities that might expose you to blood.  Hep A is fine just be sure to wash your hands afterwards, and before touching your eyes or mouth, or eating anything.
972433
My boy you can get far more than STD's by doing that. But yes, you can get HIV as people often have some skin breaks in that area and Hepatitis C. You can also get Hepatitis A and B as well as a very serious bacterial infection, parasites, and the likes.\n\nYou really just shouldn't stick your tongue in places like that.
1039300
no because hep c comes from sharing needles, and if u are just reusing the needles on urself its ok, but if u re-use them too much they get blunt and bend and stuff so its easier to bruise and bleed and they hurt more if they where new needles . .
228810
It is a possibility that Hepatitis C can be transmitted by saliva. It can be transmitted by blood, sexual contact, perinatal contact, and other unknown factors.