What is the transmission route of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a common viral liver disease with a high incidence rate in life because it is contagious. The common transmission routes include blood transmission, sexual transmission, mother-to-child transmission, etc. If you want to have a healthy body, you must be aware of disease prevention, so as to improve the efficiency of prevention.

1. Blood transmission

⑴ Transmission through blood transfusion and blood products. Due to the window period for 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, and massive blood transfusions and hemodialysis may still lead to HCV infection.

⑵ Transmission through broken skin and mucous membranes. This is currently the main mode of transmission. In some areas, intravenous drug use accounts for 60% to 90% of HCV transmission. 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 associated with 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 routes: The transmission route of 15%~30% of sporadic hepatitis C is unknown.

HCV is generally not transmitted through kissing, hugging, sneezing, coughing, food, drinking, sharing of eating utensils and cups, contact without skin breaks, and other contact without blood exposure.