Hepatitis C Transmission: How Does Hepatitis C Spread?

Overview of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the virus known as Hepatitis C, which mainly attacks the liver. The main mode of transmission to others is through the sharing of blood from an infected person with a non-infected one. Knowing the different modes of transmission will help in preventing this infection.

For those who wish to verify their status in Hepatitis C without seeing a doctor, use STDRapidtestkits.com at home Hepatitis C Test. It facilitates users to find out their Hepatitis C status in private comfortably.

Hepatitis C Screening Recommendations

The CDC recommends testing for Hepatitis C of all adults, 18 years of age and older, at least once. Testing should be conducted for every pregnancy in pregnant women.

Importance of Home Testing Kits

Home testing kits for Hepatitis C by STDRapidtestkits.com are very helpful, particularly for the generation born between 1945 and 1965. This generation, otherwise known as the baby boomer generation, has a high prevalence for Hepatitis C. About three-quarters of all Americans who have Hepatitis C are baby boomers.

Although it is not known why baby boomers are at higher risk, possibility includes viral exposure through earlier drug use or transfusions before regular blood screening for Hepatitis C was initiated before 1992.

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Routes of Hepatitis C Transmission Detection

Being aware of one's behavior or activities that have exposed them to an infected person's blood decreases their risk of getting Hepatitis C by a large margin. Let us go through some of the most common modes of transmission.

Through Blood Transfusions

The virus can be transmitted through blood transfusions if the blood has not been screened for Hepatitis C. This is most possible in countries that do not routinely screen their supplies of blood. In the United States, there are reported cases among people who had received blood transfusion before 1992. Before this time, there was inconsistent screening for the virus.

Through an Organ Transplant

Similar to blood transfusion, those who undergo organ transplant before 1992 also have increased risk of acquiring Hepatitis C.

During Sexual Contact

Though less frequent, Hepatitis C can be contracted through sexual contact with blood, ulcers, lacerations, and wounds. It is more risky in persons who have many sex partners or who have HIV or other sexually transmitted viruses.

At Tattoo and Piercing Parlors

Hepatitis C can also be contracted through tattoos or piercings done in non-regulated environments that do not use proper disinfection of needles. When infected blood is left on a needle and the needle is reused, transmission can occur. It is very important that any parlor visited uses appropriate sterilization techniques.

Transmission During Pregnancy

Babies of a Hepatitis C-positive mother may also acquire the virus inside the womb or during delivery. Approximately 6% of babies of infected mothers develop the infection.

Sharing Personal Things

Personal things that may have come into contact with an infected person's blood, such as razor blades or toothbrushes, are all potential modes for transmitting the virus. Such things must not be shared with anyone who is suspected of having Hepatitis C.

By Infected Needles

Sharing needles for illegal drugs like heroin or methamphetamine increases a person's risk of passing Hepatitis C.

Identifying Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Signs and symptoms of Hepatitis C will most likely appear within 2 to 12 weeks after the virus has been transmitted. However, most people with HCV do not exhibit symptoms for years, and this inadvertently leads to health complications that may not be detected until much later.

These would include some of the following: pain in the joints, swelling of the abdomen, yellowish skin and whites of eyes, referred to as jaundice, nausea, vomiting, not wanting to eat, fever, tiredness, general itching, dark-colored urine, pale or clay-colored stools. If you have any of these symptoms and think that you might be infected, you should speak to a healthcare professional immediately so that the proper diagnosis can be made.

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Understanding the Long-Term Health Complications of Hepatitis C

If left un-treated, Hepatitis C will cause a chronic HCV infection that may result in serious health complications in the long term, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Cirrhosis

A chronic liver disease, cirrhosis occurs when scar tissues build up in the liver. This will interfere with the blood flow and, thus, the ability of the liver to process toxins and nutrients. Similar to Hepatitis C, cirrhosis is an asymptomatic ailment until a significant amount of damage to the liver takes place.

Liver Cancer

Advanced cirrhosis is a cause of liver cancer and occurs mainly among people with the Hepatitis C virus. Sometimes, the liver's mechanism for regeneration causes a mutation that leads to the development of cancerous cells.

Liver Failure

Acute liver failure is characterized by signs and symptoms such as jaundice, confusion, somnolence, and fatigue. Liver transplantation is usually the effective way to cure liver failure caused by HCV.

Answering Some Frequently Asked Questions about Hepatitis C

To take some of the mystery out of Hepatitis C, we answer some common questions that include:

• What are the risk factors for acquiring Hepatitis C?
• What are the most common modes of transmission for Hepatitis C?
• What are less common Hepatitis C virus transmission routes?
• Is it possible to transmit Hepatitis C through saliva?

Discussing these, and other, questions with your healthcare professional can better prepare you with the knowledge you will need to manage and prevent this infection.

Prevention of Hepatitis C Transmission with Personal Items

Hepatitis C is also transmitted when people share personal things like a toothbrush, razor blades, tongue scrapers, and water flossers that have been exposed to infected blood. To avoid transmission, it is advisable not to share such belongings with any other individual, especially one who has already been diagnosed with HCV.

Understanding Risks from Contaminated Needles

Other common modes of HCV transmission include sharing or using contaminated needles, particularly by drug users of methamphetamine or heroin. Also, any person can get infected if an accidental needle prick is experienced from a person who has HCV.

Unraveling Symptoms of Hepatitis C

As such, the lack of symptoms means that persons can live with HCV for many years without having any inkling of it. Common manifestations of Hepatitis C are joint pain, abdominal swelling, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, itching, dark urine, pale or clay-colored stool.

If you have these symptoms and think that you have acquired the HCV infection, then you should consult your health professional for confirmation of diagnosis. If you desire privacy, you can choose to use the STDRapidtestkits.com home Hepatitis C Test.

Understanding the Chronic Health Effects of Hepatitis C

If left untreated, Hepatitis C progresses to chronic HCV and consequently leads to severe long-term health consequences: cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Hepatitis C is a serious viral disease that can lead to long-term consequences for the patient's health, yet its spread can be prevented if one understands the pattern of its spread. Regular screening for it will ensure early detection, particularly among high-risk groups, and timely treatment. It is essentially important to remember that because there is a great number of routes of HCV transmission, simple precautions can significantly decrease the risk of infection.