Remedial measures after being pricked by a hepatitis C needle

Hepatitis C is transmitted in almost the same way as AIDS, but it is a curable disease. The method for detecting hepatitis C is generally to detect hepatitis C antibodies and check the viral genes. After being infected with this virus, the virus is positive in the intermediate stage before its antibodies are detected, and the virus that comes out after the test is actually the opposite. The remedial measures after HCV diagnosis will also be introduced below.

1. Transmission routes of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus is mainly transmitted through blood. Due to the existence of an anti-HCV window period (the period from viral infection to the detection of antibodies), the unstable quality of anti-HCV detection reagents, and the fact that a small number of infected people do not produce anti-HCV, it is still impossible to completely screen out HCV-positive people. Therefore, large-scale blood transfusions and blood products may still be infected with hepatitis C.

2. Hepatitis C Remedial Measures

Generally speaking, if the needle has been injected into a hepatitis C patient and then stabs another friend, this friend is at a certain risk of infection. It is hard to say how high the probability is. The risk will be greater if the patient has a large amount of virus and the wound is deep. Otherwise, the risk will be smaller. Because there is currently no vaccine or protective antibody available for hepatitis C, the wound should be flushed and disinfected as soon as possible after the puncture, and the hepatitis C antibody and hepatitis C virus quantity should be tested after 1-2 months, and then consult a professional.

Recommendation to all friends: After being pricked by a hepatitis C patient, you should be tested for hepatitis C antibodies once, tested for hepatitis C antibodies and HCV RNA one month later, and tested for hepatitis C antibodies three months later. Hepatitis C is generally not transmitted through daily contact. It is mainly transmitted through unclean injections and blood, blood products, mother-to-child, and sexual contact. Even if you get hepatitis C, it can be cured, so don't worry too much.

A reminder to all friends: Although 80% of hepatitis C patients have no symptoms, the virus can still be detected in the blood. Since my country did not conduct hepatitis C testing on blood sources 20 years ago, high-risk groups such as those who have a history of blood transfusion or use of other blood products 20 years ago, tattoos, organ transplant recipients, hemodialysis patients, drug addicts, and those who have unclean injections, should take the initiative to undergo hepatitis C screening. Once diagnosed, they should receive standardized treatment to avoid missing the best time for treatment.