Is ascites caused by liver disease contagious? What are the routes of transmission?

Feb 26, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Jiang Weimin

Introduction

If caused by non-infectious liver disease, it is not contagious. If caused by infectious liver disease, it can be transmitted. In cases of infectious liver disease, transmission may occur through blood. Unprotected sexual contact with a patient carrying an infectious hepatitis virus also increases the risk of transmission. If a pregnant woman's ascites is due to viral infection, mother-to-child transmission may occur during childbirth.

Whether ascites due to liver disease is contagious usually depends on the presence of a source of infection and routes of transmission. If contagious, common transmission routes include blood transmission, sexual transmission, and mother-to-child transmission.

I. Contagiousness

If ascites results from non-infectious liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis or hepatic venous obstruction syndrome, it is not contagious because there is neither an infectious source nor a transmission route. However, if ascites is caused by infectious liver diseases such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, it can be contagious since these viruses are easily transmitted.

II. Routes of Transmission

1. Blood transmission

In cases of infectious liver disease, transmission via blood may occur when a person with open wounds comes into contact with blood from a hepatitis B carrier, or when inadequately sterilized surgical instruments are shared, or when plasma containing hepatitis B or C virus is transfused.

2. Sexual transmission

Unprotected sexual intercourse with a patient carrying infectious hepatitis viruses also poses a high risk of transmission.

3. Mother-to-child transmission

If a pregnant woman's ascites is caused by a viral infection, transmission to the fetus may occur during childbirth through exposure to the mother’s blood or vaginal secretions.

If ascites is caused by an infectious liver disease, it is recommended to promptly implement isolation measures to prevent spreading the infection to others.

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