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. Their blood test may show an imbalance in their liver enzymes due to some sort of hepatitis in general. However, people who have hepatitis C can still have normal liver enzyme tests. Because many of these symptoms are nonspecific and can occur with any cause of liver inflammation, people may not realize or even consider that they could have hepatitis C.
Doctors recommend that certain groups undergo testing for hepatitis C. These groups include people with symptoms and people who:. If the blood test identifies antibodies to the hepatitis C virus, a doctor will order further testing to confirm whether or not the person has the active hepatitis C virus. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the outlook for hepatitis C. Without treatment, the condition can cause life threatening complications, including cirrhosis liver scarring , liver failure, and liver cancer.
The outlook for hepatitis C has improved dramatically in recent years. Taking medications called DAAs may be effective for curing hepatitis C. Treatments can be expensive, but some insurance plans may cover them. People can speak to their healthcare provider for help with payment. Here, we take a look at how long the hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body and how this affects the chances of transmission.
The most common types of viral hepatitis are A, B, and C. They all affect the liver and have similar symptoms, but transmission and treatments differ….
Learn about the hepatitis C antibody test, which is used to detect when someone has had the hepatitis C virus. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.
Normal liver vs. Liver cancer Open pop-up dialog box Close. Liver cancer Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. Share on: Facebook Twitter.
Show references Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 12, Hepatitis C. Mayberry J, et al. The revolution in treatment of hepatitis C. Medical Clinics of North America. Chopra S, et al. Clinical manifestations and natural history of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Kim AY. Epidemiology and transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatitis C adult. Mayo Clinic; Definition and facts of liver transplant. Jhaveri R, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in children. Morrow ES. AllScripts EPSi.
Mayo Clinic. April 16, Owens DK, et al. Screening for hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: U. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Early hepatitis C infection: How often does it become chronic? How Hepatitis C Is Spread. Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs. Needlestick injuries in healthcare settings.
Mother-to-child transfer at birth. Tattoos or body piercings done with contaminated needles or by a nonprofessional. Blood transfusions and organ transplants before Sexual contact with someone who has HCV. Exposure to blood containing HCV that has not been cleaned up. Who should get tested for hepatitis C? All pregnant women during each pregnancy Children born to mothers with HCV infection.
Anyone who has injected drugs and shared needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment at least once, even if it was many years ago. People who are receiving hemodialysis.
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