This article looks at how the hepatitis C virus spreads, some risk factors, and how to prevent infection. The word hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C can be acute short-term or chronic long lasting.
With early diagnosis, however, modern treatments can cure hepatitis C and prevent liver damage. Vaccines can prevent all types of viral hepatitis except for hepatitis C. Avoiding contact with infected blood is the only way to avoid contracting hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, meaning that a person must come into contact with blood that contains the virus to contract it. Most new cases of hepatitis C in the U.
Transmission can happen when a person with the virus shares needles or contaminated drugs with others. The hepatitis C virus is very difficult to kill, and even tiny spots of blood that are invisible to the human eye can contain the virus. People can also contract the virus in healthcare settings through exposure to blood that contains the virus, such as through accidental needlesticks. Hepatitis C often has no symptoms. This means that a person can contract hepatitis C without knowing it.
This makes it easier for them to transmit it to others. For this reason, it is important that people with a higher risk of coming into contact with the hepatitis C virus know how to avoid contracting and transmitting it. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. Avoiding contact with infected blood is the only way to prevent the condition.
The most common way for people to contract hepatitis C is by injecting street drugs. Because of this, the best way to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid injecting. Treatments can help many people quit. People in the U. If a person finds it difficult to stop, they can reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis C by never sharing drug equipment, ensuring a clean, hygienic environment, and always using new equipment, including syringes, ties, alcohol swabs, cottons, and cookers.
People who may come into contact with infected blood, such as healthcare workers and caretakers, should always wash the hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact, or suspected contact, with blood.
People can also reduce their risk by making sure that any tattoo artist or body piercer they visit uses fresh, sterile needles and unopened ink. The risk of contracting hepatitis C through sexual contact is low. Using barrier protection, such as condoms, reduces the risk of most sexually transmitted infections.
All pregnant women are tested for hepatitis B infection as part of early prenatal care. If you test negative for hepatitis B virus but you have risk factors for getting infected, you should be offered the hepatitis B vaccine. If you test positive, you should be tested again during your third trimester to determine how much virus is in your system.
Depending on the results of this test, you may be offered HBIG antiviral therapy. More than 2 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with hepatitis C. Another 3 to 4 million are thought to be carriers. About 2 in 3 hepatitis C carriers eventually develop chronic liver disease. Hepatitis C is spread through direct contact with infected blood. This can happen while sharing needles or household items that can carry small amounts of blood razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes.
People who work in the health care field also may be exposed to infected blood. A baby can be infected during birth if the mother has hepatitis C. It also can be spread during unprotected sex, but it is harder to spread the virus this way. It is not spread by casual contact. There is more than one type of hepatitis C virus. Different virus types are called strains. It is possible to be infected with more than one strain at the same time. The signs and symptoms of hepatitis C are like hepatitis B signs and symptoms.
In some cases, there are no symptoms. Unlike hepatitis B infection, most adults infected with hepatitis C become carriers. Most carriers develop long-term liver disease. A smaller number will develop liver damage and other serious, life-threatening liver problems. Yes, the tests for hepatitis C show whether you are infected with the hepatitis C virus.
If the test result is positive, another kind of test can tell whether you still have the virus in your blood, and if so, how much virus is present. All people 18 and older should be tested for hepatitis C at least once. Those at high risk of infection should be tested for hepatitis C regardless of age. People at high risk of hepatitis C infection include. Antiviral medications are used to treat hepatitis C infection.
With recent advances in treatment, most people with chronic hepatitis C infection can be cured. Treatment also decreases the risk of long-term complications of the disease. There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection.
You can take steps to avoid hepatitis C, including. About 4 in pregnant women who are infected with hepatitis C will pass it to their babies. The risk is related to how much of the virus a woman has in her body and whether she also is infected with HIV. There are no preventive measures available that can reduce the risk of passing the virus to the baby. Cesarean birth does not lower the risk of transmission to the baby. You can breastfeed your baby if you have the hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C testing is recommended for all pregnant women during each pregnancy. Currently, there are no hepatitis C treatments approved for use during pregnancy. But if you have the virus, you will need special care during pregnancy to make sure you stay healthy. If you are infected with the hepatitis C virus, your baby should be tested, usually when your baby is at least 18 months old. There is no newborn vaccine for hepatitis C. Babies who are infected with hepatitis C will need ongoing medical care.
You also will need long-term health care. You can start treatment with an antiviral medication after pregnancy. If you breastfeed your baby, treatment should start after finishing breastfeeding. Antibodies: Proteins in the blood that the body makes in reaction to foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses.
Carriers: People who are infected with the organism of a disease without showing symptoms. These people can pass the disease to other people. Cells: The smallest units of a structure in the body. Exposure to blood in ANY situation can be a risk for transmission. It is spread when a person who is not immune comes in contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. Hepatitis C is spread through sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through needlestick or sharps exposures in a health care setting, or sometimes from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal birth.
It is possible to get hepatitis C from sex, but it is uncommon. Navigation menu. Section Menu Hepatitis Are you at risk? Questions or comments: hepatabc health.
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