Causes of Hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus is a blood borne virus.What Causes Hepatitis C?

Because HCV infection usually produces no symptoms or very mild symptoms during the early stages, many people don’t know they have it until liver damage shows up – sometimes decades later – during routine medical tests.  Some people who get HCV have it for a short time (up to six months) and then get better on their own.  This is called acute Hepatitis C.  But most people (about 75% – 85%) will go on to develop chronic (or long-term) Hepatitis C, meaning it doesn’t go away. Hepatitis virus is  most commonly transmitted through:

• injecting drug use through the sharing of injection equipment;
• in health care settings due to the reuse or inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, especially syringes and needles;
• in some countries, HCV is transmitted via the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products;
• HCV can also be transmitted sexually, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby; however these modes are less common.However , the risk is thought to increase if the mother also has HIV or particularly high levels of the virus.
• Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food or water or by casual contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person.
• The most common way to get hepatitis C is by sharing needles and other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) used to inject illegal drugs.
• In rare cases, a mother with hepatitis C spreads the virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to blood that is infected with hepatitis C.
• Those people are at high risk who use shared toothbrushes , scissors and razors and other things.Equipment that is used by the hairdressers can pose a risk if it has been contaminated with infected blood and not been washed or cleaned between customers. However, most salons operate to high standards, so this risk is low.
• Peoples can also get Hepatitis C when they share bank notes or straws to snort cocaine. Cocaine may damage the the inside of the nose , leading to bleeding. It's possible then to inhale contaminated blood and become infected.
• Hepatitis c can be pass using tattooing or body piercing equipment that has not been properly sterilised.
• Hepatitis C can be transmitted during unprotected sex (sex without utilizing a condom), in spite of the fact that this danger is very low.The risk of transmission through sex may be higher among men who have sex with men. The risk to get Hepatitis B  is also increased if there are genital sores or ulcers from a sexually transmitted infection, or if either person also has HIV.

A person cannot get hepatitis C from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or water with someone. A person can only get hepatitis C if you come into contact with the blood of someone who has hepatitis C.The risk of getting hepatitis C through sexual contact is very small.1 The risk is higher if you have many sex partners.
If you live with someone who has hepatitis C or you know someone who has hepatitis C, you generally don't need to worry about getting the disease from that person. You can help protect yourself by not sharing anything that may have blood on it, such as razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers.