Is mild cirrhosis of the liver contagious?
Disease description:
My second elder brother was diagnosed with mild cirrhosis last month. I heard that many liver diseases are contagious to some extent. Is mild cirrhosis contagious?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Mild cirrhosis itself is not contagious. Whether it can be transmitted depends on the cause of the cirrhosis. If cirrhosis is caused by infectious pathogens such as hepatitis B or C viruses, and viral replication is still present in the patient's body, it may be transmitted to others through routes such as blood contact or sexual activity. However, it is important to note that this transmissibility does not stem from cirrhosis itself, but rather from the infectivity of the pathogen (e.g., virus). Conversely, if cirrhosis results from non-infectious factors (such as alcohol, medications, or autoimmune diseases), it will not be transmissible to others. Therefore, when determining whether mild cirrhosis is contagious, it is essential to identify the underlying cause and conduct a comprehensive evaluation combining pathogen detection results.
