Hepatitis C virus transmission routes

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Huynh Kim Long - Emergency Resuscitation Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Danang International Hospital

Hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded virus that enters the body through the bloodstream and attacks the liver. Here, they proliferate, causing the liver to swell, killing cells and destroying the liver.

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (Hepatitis C virus). This is a single-stranded virus that enters the body through the bloodstream and attacks the liver. Here, they proliferate, causing the liver to swell and kill liver cells, destroying the liver. Therefore, a long-term untreated Hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis, and if cirrhosis is not treated properly, the risk of liver failure and liver cancer is very high.
This is a very dangerous disease and annually claims the lives of about half a million people around the world. However, up to 90% of people with hepatitis C are completely unaware that they have the disease, do not understand the causes of hepatitis C, leading to many bad consequences.

Hepatitis C is contagious. The disease is transmitted from a carrier of the hepatitis C virus to a healthy person. Therefore, you need to learn about the routes of disease transmission so that you can proactively prevent yourself and those around you.

The disease is not transmitted by casual contact such as: talking, shaking hands, eating, sharing cups, dishes, towels... Therefore, when you come into contact with someone with hepatitis C through activities Every day we should not arise stigma or anxiety.

The disease is transmitted in 3 ways: blood-borne, sexual and mother-to-child transmission through the placenta at birth. In particular, the risk of hepatitis C virus infection through blood accounts for the highest rate.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood Hepatitis C is very contagious through blood transfusion. People who receive blood or blood products from people infected with the hepatitis C virus can become infected with the virus. Specifically: sharing needles infected with hepatitis C virus; sharing personal items that can cause scratches and bleeding such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, earwax, back scratchers, wind scrapers, hairbrushes... or tattoo, ear piercing, acupuncture, but the practice equipment has not been treated as sterile. Long-term dialysis, sharing medical equipment infected with hepatitis C virus that has not been treated as sterile can also be infected.
Hepatitis C is sexually transmitted. People can be infected with the hepatitis C virus if they have unprotected sex with an infected person. If there is blood in the semen of a man with hepatitis C and through a cut in the urethra during sex, the hepatitis C virus can easily attack their sexual partner. .
Any sexual act that can hurt or scratch has a high risk of infection. Therefore, when we know the route of hepatitis C transmission, each person needs to have a sense of protecting the safety of themselves and others by practicing safe sex, monogamy, avoiding behaviors Having sex with high risk of bleeding, avoiding intercourse during menstruation, and using condoms every time you have sex to avoid spreading the infection to your partner.
Hepatitis C is transmitted from mother to child

Hepatitis C can be transmitted from mother to child but with a low rate, about 5%. Babies are also at risk of contracting the hepatitis C virus if their mothers were infected during pregnancy. The route of transmission of hepatitis C virus from mother to child is through the placenta at the time of birth. During childbirth, the placenta is shed, the hepatitis C virus will be passed from the mother to the baby through the blood, so whether a mother has a vaginal birth or a cesarean section, a mother with hepatitis C can still pass it on to her baby.
Although hepatitis C virus is not transmitted through breast milk, mothers infected with hepatitis C virus are advised not to breastfeed directly, but to express milk and then breastfeed, to avoid scratching the nipples. can pass the disease on to their children.
Besides, some patients are infected without knowing what is the route of hepatitis C transmission for them. In these cases, it is possible that the patient was accidentally infected with the hepatitis C virus during a fall, scratched or cut an arm or leg without even knowing it.
Hepatitis C is a dangerous infectious disease with a high mortality rate. People with hepatitis C are at risk of facing many dangerous complications such as liver failure, cirrhosis or even liver cancer. More dangerous when hepatitis C currently does not have a vaccine, so to prevent the disease, we can only prevent the causes of hepatitis C.
In addition, each of us should have be aware of preventing diseases for themselves and those around them from the causes of hepatitis C to avoid spreading the disease quickly in the community. If you find yourself showing symptoms of hepatitis C virus, you should soon see a specialist for examination and specific diagnostic tests, for accurate advice and timely treatment.