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How do you get infected with hepatitis C? Certainly not by a kiss, as is commonly believed. The HCV virus, which causes hepatitis C, is only transmitted through the blood. Check what are the routes of hepatitis C infection and in which situations you cannot get infected.

How can you get infected with hepatitis C?Unfortunately, most people do not know what are theroutes of infectionwith the HCV virus that causes hepatitis C (hepatitis C). Meanwhile, 2-3 thousand people register each year in Poland. new cases, but their actual number may be higher, as not all infections can be diagnosed. The vast majority - as much as 95 percent. cases - this is a chronic form of the disease, often with complications in the form of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. The number of people actively infected with HCV is around 230,000.

Hepatitis C - how can you get infected?

HCV infection occurs through transfusion of infected blood or contact of damaged skin or mucous membranes (it is necessary to break the continuity of tissues, e.g. puncture or cutting the skin or damage to the mucous membranes) with objects that have been contaminated with it, i.e. infected blood must come into contact with the blood or mucosa of a he althy person.

This risk appears during medical procedures:

  • injections
  • surgical procedures (including caesarean section)
  • dental
  • blood collection

People who inject drugs are particularly vulnerable to infections, as well as dialysis patients, hemophiliacs, HIV-positive children, babies of mothers infected during childbirth.

and also non-medical procedures:

  • piercing
  • tattoo
  • manicure
  • hairdressing and beauty treatments

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It is estimated that half of people who inject drugs are infected, so sharing needles and syringes is another risk factor for injecting drugs.

HCV infection can also happen at home, when family members share hygiene items (e.g. razors).

Particular care should be taken when providing first aid - if we have cuts or damage on our skin, we can become infected when in contact with the blood of the HCV carrier.

For similar reasons, infections can occur during contact sports.

Damage to the skin and mucous membranes of the intimate areas, anus, mouth may become the gate of infection during sexual contact. The risk increases for people with HIV.

During delivery, the baby may be infected, but the risk is only about 6%. and depends on many additional factors, incl. the concentration of the virus in the mother's blood. HCV carriers can breastfeed because the virus is not transmitted this way.

Worth knowing

Individual routes of HCV infection:

The probability of infection as a result of individual human behavior:

  • very high in injecting drug users
  • low, but present in home contacts
  • minimal in marital life
  • increased in multiple sexual partners
  • practically zero in social and business contacts

80% of people do not know about HCV infection

Source: youtube.com/newsrm.tv

Can you get hepatitis C through a kiss?

The HCV virus, which causes hepatitis C (hepatitis C), is not transmitted through saliva, and therefore not by kiss. Besides, we won't get infected with it through:

  • sneezing
  • cough
  • holding hands
  • holding someone in an embrace
  • use the same toilet, bathtub, shower
  • eating food prepared by an HCV-infected person
  • swimming in the same body of water
  • playing with children, sports (if there is no damage to the body)

hepatitis C - important research

Risk groups should be screened for anti-HCV antibodies. If the test is positive, it means that the patient has been exposed to the virus, but this does not always mean active HCV infection. Then it is recommended to test for the presence of viral genetic material, i.e. HCV RNA test, which will confirm or exclude active infection.

Performing a screening test is crucial for an early diagnosis, as approximately 80% those infected do not feel any specific symptoms of the disease.

More information is available on the website of the project "Prevention of HCV infections": www.hcv.pzh.gov.pl

Source:

Materials from the 4th edition of Medicinara educational workshops, conducted as part of the nationwide programProgram "Prevention of HCV infections" (viral hepatitis C), co-financed by Switzerland under the Swiss Program of Cooperation with new member states of the European Union and the Minister of He alth, and coordinated by the National Institute of Public He alth - PZH.

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