What are the ways hepatitis C is transmitted?

Hepatitis C is a contagious disease, so if you want to better reduce the harm it causes, you need to understand the routes of transmission. The main routes of transmission are blood transmission, sexual transmission, and mother-to-child transmission. Understand these routes and do a good job of prevention.

1. Blood transmission

(1) Transmission through blood transfusion and blood products: Due to the window period of anti-HCV, 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 impossible to completely screen out HCV-positive people. Large-scale blood transfusion and hemodialysis may still cause HCV infection.

(2) Transmission through broken skin and mucous membranes: This is currently the main mode of transmission. In some areas, HCV transmission due to intravenous drug use accounts for 60% to 90%. The use of non-disposable syringes and needles, dental instruments that have not been strictly sterilized, endoscopes, invasive procedures and acupuncture are also important routes of percutaneous transmission. Some traditional medical methods that may cause skin damage and blood exposure are also related to HCV transmission; sharing razors, toothbrushes, tattoos and ear piercings are also potential ways for HCV to be transmitted through blood.

2. Sexually transmitted.

3. Mother-to-child transmission

The risk of anti-HCV positive mothers transmitting HCV to their newborns is 2%. If the mother is HCV RNA positive during delivery, the risk of transmission can be as high as 4% to 7%. When combined with HIV infection, the risk of transmission increases to 20%. High HCV viral load may increase the risk of transmission.

4. Other ways

It occurs in 15% to 30% of sporadic hepatitis C, and its route of transmission is unknown.