How is hcv contracted

Can I spread hepatitis C without having symptoms? Who should get tested for hepatitis C? Should anyone be tested for hepatitis C more than once? If I am pregnant, should I be tested for hepatitis C? What tests are used to diagnose someone with hepatitis C? When should I expect to get my test results? How are hepatitis C test results interpreted? What should I do if the HCV antibody test is reactive? How soon after exposure to the hepatitis C virus can a test tell if someone is infected?

Can a person have normal liver enzyme level and still have hepatitis C? What is the treatment for acute hepatitis C? What can people with chronic hepatitis C do to protect the liver? Is there a vaccine that can prevent hepatitis C? Hepatitis C and Employment. Should a person infected with the hepatitis C virus be restricted from working in certain jobs or settings? Overview and Statistics What is hepatitis? Acute hepatitis C occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C can be a short-term illness, but for most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C can be a lifelong infection if left untreated.

Chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis scarring of the liver , liver cancer, and even death. Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C. Hepatitis D. Hepatitis E. Viral Hepatitis Home. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

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Cancel Continue. Before screening began, experts estimate, one out of every units of transfused blood contained the virus. Today, for every 1,, blood transfusions, only one carries the virus.

Patients who've ever been on long-term kidney dialysis, who run an elevated risk because of frequent transfusions. Health care workers who have been exposed to HCV-positive blood, typically through needle sticks, splashes to the eye, or other contact.

Studies show that about three health care workers out of who receive accidental needle sticks with HCV-infected blood will become infected. Children born to HCV-positive mothers. About 4 out of every infants born to infected mothers are infected with the virus, but the risk is higher if the mother has both hepatitis C and HIV.

Infection occurs at the time of birth, through contact with blood. Unfortunately, doctors haven't yet discovered a way to prevent transmission to newborns. People who receive surgery or other invasive medical treatments in countries that don't screen for hepatitis C.

There's a possibility that you might receive a contaminated transfusion. People who have one or more of the above risk factors should contact their health care provider and ask to be tested for hepatitis C.

If you have persistently abnormal liver enzyme, or ALT, levels, you should get the test as well. What about tattooing? Is it possible to contract HCV from a shared razor or toothbrush? Is sex safe? Preventing the spread The more we know about HCV, the better equipped we are to prevent its spread. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close. The liver The liver is your largest internal organ.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed May 12, Hepatitis C. Mayberry J, et al. The revolution in treatment of hepatitis C. 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. 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.