Hep c how can it be transmitted

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. There are many misconceptions about how hepatitis C spreads. People cannot transmit or contract the virus through:. Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic.

Acute infection occurs during the first 6 months after contracting it, while chronic infections can last a lifetime if the person does not seek treatment. In many cases, hepatitis C causes no symptoms. This means that people may have the infection without knowing it. Also, it is important to note that people can transmit the virus even if they have no symptoms.

The symptoms of chronic hepatitis C do not usually appear until a person has had the infection for some time. Most commonly, a person will learn that they have a liver problem after undergoing a blood test for another condition. People who are receiving hemodialysis. People who received an organ transplant, transfusion of blood, or blood components before July People who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection.

Healthcare, emergency medical, and public safety personnel after needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposures to HCV positive blood. People who received clotting factor concentrates produced before People with HIV People who have abnormal liver tests or liver disease. CDC recommends regular testing for: People who currently receive maintenance hemodialysis Anyone who currently injects drugs and shares needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment.

Rick F. Symptoms of hepatitis C. Talk to your healthcare professional about hep C Be prepared to help guide the conversation. Start here. How do I find out if I have hep C? Learn how your healthcare professional will diagnose you. Get the details. However, as the risk is very low for couples in a long-term relationship, many choose not to use a condom. Since September , all blood donated in the UK is checked for the hepatitis C virus.

If you received blood transfusions or blood products before this date, there's a small chance you may have been infected with hepatitis C. If you have a blood transfusion or medical or dental treatment overseas where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, you may become infected with hepatitis C.

The virus can survive in traces of blood left on equipment. There's a potential risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors and scissors, as they can become contaminated with infected blood. Equipment used by hairdressers, such as scissors and clippers, can pose a risk if it has been contaminated with infected blood and not sterilised or cleaned between customers.

However, most salons operate to high standards, so this risk is low. There is a risk that hepatitis C may be passed on by using tattooing or body piercing equipment that has not been properly sterilised. However, most tattoo and body piercing parlours in the UK operate to high standards and are regulated by law, so this risk is low. There is a small chance that a mother who is infected with the hepatitis C virus will pass the infection on to her baby. It's not thought that the virus can be passed on by a mother to her baby in her breast milk.

There's a small — approximately 1 in 50 — risk of getting hepatitis C if your skin is accidentally punctured by a needle used by someone with hepatitis C.