Know how Hepatitis C spreads

Dr Suresh Singhvi

Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems. Approximately 60,000 people die every year from Hepatitis C related liver disease.

It is a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness that attacks the liver. It results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person.

Chronic Hepatitis C virus infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Hepatitis C virus infection can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.

Approximately 75%–85% of people who become infected with Hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection.

Here's how it is spread:

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs.

People can become infected with the Hepatitis C virus during activities like:

- Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs

- Needlestick injuries in health care settings

- Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C

Less commonly, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus infection through:

- Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes

- Having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus

- The disease can also be spread by getting a tattoo or piercing, though, a few major research studies have not shown Hepatitis C to spread through licensed, commercial tattooing facilities. However, transmission of Hepatitis C (and other infectious diseases) is possible when poor infection-control practices are used during tattooing or piercing. Body art is becoming increasingly popular , and unregulated tattooing and piercing are known to occur and other informal or unregulated settings.