How Is Hep C Contracted?
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Blood
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Because Hepatitis C is a virus, it is easily contracted whenever there is blood to blood contact. Most often this occurs as a result of a blood transfusion. Hemophiliacs are at a higher rate of contracting Hepatitis C because they receive many blood transfusions. Even women who have cesarean sections are at risk if they require a transfusion. In 1990 technicians began testing donor blood for Hep C to reduce the chances of infecting blood transfusion recipients.
Sexual Contact
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Hepatitis C can also be contracted through sexual contact. This is because blood to blood contact can be made. Unprotected sex poses a big risk, although not a high as of a risk as a blood transfusion. Hepatitis C is more often found in individuals who have multiple sex partners verses those in a monogamous relationship.
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IV Drug Use
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The highest risk for contracting Hepatitis C is through intravenous drug use. This is because most drug users share their needles. As soon as one infected individual is done with his needle, another user sticks the needle in her own skin. The Hepatitis C virus has now been contracted, even though it may not display symptoms until a few years later.
Other Methods
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In rare cases, Hepatitis C can be contracted by a baby during the birth of an infected mother. An infected household member can also infect another household member if there is contact with blood. That means if an infected father drinks a glass of water with a cut on his lip and then his child drinks out of the same cup, the virus can be transmitted. Nurses and doctors can become infected with Hepatitis C if they accidentally get stuck with a needle that was just used on an infected patient. Finally, a tattoo artist can infect several clients if he does not sterilize his needle in between clients. This works the same way as the IV drug use.
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