Is Hepatitis C Contagious?

Hepatitis C is a viral disease which is caused due to the presence of the RNA virus 'Hepatitis C' in the blood. Just like the other hepatitis disease, hepatitis C is also connected with the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be classified into six types, known as genotypes. Among the six genotypes, it is observed that genotype 1 is the most common type of virus that causes hepatitis C in human beings. A person affected with the hepatitis C virus can either have acute hepatitis C or chronic hepatitis C. Usually, people who have acute hepatitis C do not experience any symptoms and are fully cured after a few weeks. However, those who have chronic hepatitis C have to live with it for their entire life. People who are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C are at a high risk of developing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Hepatitis C are more prominent in people who have chronic hepatitis C. However, it is important to be aware of the signs that one would experience when contracted with the HCV virus. Here is a list of symptoms of hepatitis C -

• Extreme tiredness
• Pain and tenderness in the area of the liver
• Nausea and vomiting
• Low-grade fever
• Jaundice

How Contagious is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a contagious disease, where the virus is transmitted to a person through the blood. When a person receives blood from a person who has hepatitis C, he/she is bound to be infected with the virus. Prior to 1992, blood that was donated was not checked for the hepatitis C virus. Thus, people who received blood before 1992 have high chances of suffering from this disease. However, as donated blood is checked carefully these days, the risk of getting hepatitis C through blood transmissions or transfusions has become almost negligible. Nevertheless, health care professionals and people who work in laboratories can acquire this disease through accidental exposure to the infected blood.

Apart from this, even drug addicts who share needles with other people are at a high risk of contracting the hepatitis C virus. Indulging in body piercing and tattooing with the help of unhygienic and used needles or instruments can also increase the risk of the person getting affected by hepatitis C. Sharing personal items like razors, toothbrushes, etc. with an hepatitis C infected individual can lead to the transmission of this virus to other people.

Many people think that the hepatitis C virus can be spread by indulging in sexual behavior with an infected partner. Though this is possible, this belief is not completely true. It has been observed that only people who indulge in sex with multiple partners are prone to be affected by hepatitis C virus. On the other hand, people who stay faithful to a single partner having this virus have very minute chances of getting diagnosed with hepatitis. Contagious diseases, like the hepatitis C virus, can also be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth. However, it is very rare for the virus to spread through hugging, kissing, touching, coughing, sharing utensils, etc.

Treatment

Though hepatitis C is said to be the most dangerous among the three types of hepatitis diseases, it is possible to cure a person with the help of proper treatment. It is important for the physician to know about the type of hepatitis C virus, and how much the virus has spread in the body, to determine the correct treatment for a person. Peginterferon and Ribavirin are two drugs that are given to patients affected by hepatitis C. Moreover, infected patients are required to take extra care of their liver in order to protect it from scarring. In extreme cases, patients may also have to undergo liver transplant surgery, however, the surgery does not ensure that the virus would be eradicated from the body.

Duration of Contagiousness

A person who is affected by hepatitis C virus is said to be contagious even before he/she starts showing any symptoms. Moreover, once a person has this disease, he/she is said to carry the virus for a lifetime. This is not only applicable in the case of chronic hepatitis C, but is also applicable for people who are suffering from acute hepatitis C. Individuals who have hepatitis C should avoid donating blood even after recovering, to avoid spreading of the disease.

One must remember that hepatitis C is a dangerous disease, which if not given proper treatment can prove fatal for the person. Moreover, as there is no vaccine to protect a person from this disease, it is really important to control the spread of this disease by taking appropriate precautions.