Can hepatitis C be transmitted through saliva?
Disease description:
A friend of mine was diagnosed with hepatitis C. We often ate together and shared utensils before the diagnosis, and now I’m worried about being infected. Does hepatitis C transmit through saliva?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xu Shuai
Hepatitis C is not transmitted through saliva. The primary modes of hepatitis C transmission are blood-to-blood contact, sexual contact, and mother-to-child transmission. In daily life, close-contact behaviors—such as sharing razors or needles—may pose a risk of infection. However, routine work and social interactions generally do not lead to transmission. If you are concerned about possible infection, you can promptly visit a hospital for hepatitis C testing to determine whether you have been infected.
