Causes and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C

Inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus, or HCV, is one of the most serious forms of hepatitis.

The Facts

• Hepatitis C can't be spread by casual contact. It is spread when blood from an infected person comes in contact with the blood of a person who is not infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sexual transmission is possible, but unlikely.

Intravenous Drug Use

• Sharing contaminated needles and other drug paraphernalia is the most common means of transmitting Hepatitis C.

Blood Transfusions

• All donated blood in the United States has been tested for the Hepatitis C virus since 1992. It isn't likely that you can become infected from a blood transfusion received later than that.

Other Causes

• HCV is rarely passed from a mother to an unborn child. Having tattoos or body piercing done with needles that are not sterile can lead to infection.

Risk Factors

• Your risk of contracting HCV increases if you are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood, if you inject illegal drugs and if you have received a tattoo in a nonsterile environment.

Prevention

• If you handle blood on the job, use safety precautions. Avoid sharing needles or having sexual intercourse with multiple partners, and don't share razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers.