What are the transmission routes of hepatitis C?
Disease description:
When I went to the hospital for a medical checkup, I heard the doctor mentioning hepatitis C. I wanted to ask the doctor about the transmission routes of hepatitis C.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Hepatitis C (HCV) is primarily transmitted through the following routes:
1. Bloodborne transmission: This is the most common mode of transmission, including the use of inadequately sterilized or unsterilized syringes, needles, dialysis equipment, and transfusion of HCV-infected blood or blood products.
2. Mother-to-child transmission: If a pregnant woman is infected with hepatitis C, she may transmit the virus to her newborn during childbirth, although the probability is relatively low.
3. Sexual transmission: Although less common than with HIV, hepatitis C can be transmitted through unprotected sexual activity, particularly among individuals with multiple sexual partners or those who have other sexually transmitted diseases.
4. Contact via contaminated personal items: Sharing personal hygiene items such as razors, toothbrushes, or dermal scraping boards (gua sha boards) that are contaminated with infected blood may theoretically transmit the virus, although such transmission is extremely rare in everyday life.
Hepatitis C is not transmitted through casual contact, food, water, or air. If infection is suspected, medical attention should be sought immediately.
