How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted

Hepatitis C is a type of hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). When a person contracts hepatitis C, it can take 2 to 12 weeks from exposure until the onset of any symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ( 1 ) Between 20 and 30 percent of people infected with HCV develop symptoms of acute hepatitis C. But in many cases of acute hepatitis C, people do not develop any symptoms. About three-quarters of people with HCV will develop complications , including a chronic HCV infection that can last a lifetime.
Different Types of Hepatitis Types and Transmission The different types of viral hepatitis, which also includes hepatitis A and B, are transmitted in different ways. For instance, the hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contaminated food and drink, while the hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with various bodily fluids, including blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. ( 2 ) Hepatitis C is less transmissible than A and B because you mainly get it through blood contact, though it can be spread through sexual contact. But unlike A and B, there is no vaccine for C, though research is underway. The hepatitis C death rate has been in decline since 2014, according to the CDC. However, the number of acute cases of hepatitis C has been steadily increasing , so it’s important to stay vigilant. While some acute infections of hepatitis C spontaneously clear on their own, prior infection does not protect against a future infection with the same or a different strain of the virus. There are six primary strains, or genotypes, of the hepatitis C virus, and each responds to different medications. ( 4 )
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How the Hepatitis C Virus Spreads How the Virus Spreads In the past, hepatitis C was often spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. This changed in 1992 when widespread, more-advanced blood screening techniques became available. The risk of contracting HCV in this manner is now less than one chance per two million units transfused, according to the CDC. (4) But former transfusion practices are likely one reason why hepatitis C disproportionately affects baby boomers, who received blood transfusions before better screening was implemented. People born between 1945 and 1965 make up about three-quarters of the 3.5 million Americans with hepatitis C. ( 3 ) Today the most common way that hepatitis is spread is through the sharing of needles and other equipment for drug use. From 2008 to 2018, the CDC reported that 20- to 29-year-olds had the highest number of new infections. This is seen as a result of the increased use of IV drugs connected to the opioid epidemic in the United States. (3) The CDC also notes that infections are rising among women of childbearing age. While the virus is not always transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby, it is possible: About 6 infants in 100 born to mothers with the virus are infected. (4)
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You can also be exposed to HCV through: Needlestick injuries in hospitals and clinics The use of unsterile medical equipment, especially needles and syringes, in a healthcare setting The use of unsterile instruments for tattoos and piercings Sharing personal care items (such as razors and toothbrushes) that have come into contact with HCV-infected blood Unprotected sex The CDC notes that the virus can survive for up to three weeks outside the body at room temperature on environmental surfaces. To clean up blood spills, use a solution of water and bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and wear gloves (dried blood, too, can be infectious). (4)
Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Risk Factors Though the risk is believed to be low, you can contract hepatitis C by having unprotected sex with an HCV-infected person. This risk increases if you have multiple sex partners, have a sexually transmitted disease, or engage in rough sex or anal sex that causes bleeding. ( 5 ) Having sex with an HCV-infected woman who is menstruating can also increase your risk, as the virus is passed through exposure to infected blood. ( 6 ) Aside from unsafe sexual activity, there are several other factors that increase your risk of getting hepatitis C, including if you: Use intravenous drugs now or have used them in the past Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, when better hepatitis C testing became available Received a clotting factor concentrate, which helps blood clot properly, made before 1987, when more advanced manufacturing methods were developed Ever underwent long-term hemodialysis treatment Were born to an HCV-positive mother (about 6 percent of infants born to HCV-positive mothers become infected with the virus, according to the CDC) (4) Have tattoos or piercings, particularly those done with unsterile equipment or at unregulated facilities Are a healthcare worker who has ever been injured by a needlestick at work
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HIV and Hepatitis C HIV and Hepatitis C HIV is considered a strong risk factor for hepatitis C, as HIV and HCV coinfections are common. About 25 percent of people with HIV also have hepatitis C. ( 7 ) Moreover, mothers with both HIV and HCV are more likely to pass on HCV to their infants at birth than mothers without HIV. (4)
Activities That Do Not Spread Hepatitis C Non Risk Factors Because HCV is spread through blood, you cannot get the virus from: Breast milk Food or water Casual contact with an HCV-infected person, such as hugging, holding hands, or kissing (saliva does not transmit HCV) Being coughed or sneezed on Sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils Via mosquitoes or other insects (4) Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.