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Hepatitis C can cause acute or chronic diseases.
Acute HCV cases usually result in asymptomatic disease and do not typically cause life-threatening conditions.
How Do You Get Hepatitis C?
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Hepatitis C is a very common virus among drug injection users.
The list below describes the most common ways this can occur.
It’s recommended that a person be tested for HCV during each pregnancy.
Each piercing brings more opportunities for the needle to come in contact with infected blood.
It is now very rare to contract hepatitis C through blood transfusions and organ transplants.
Hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual activity, but it is uncommon.
Can People With Hep C Be Blood Donors?
The NAT test determines whether you have had HCV in the past or are currently infected with the virus.
A Word From Verywell
Living with hepatitis C can affect you physically and emotionally.
Fortunately, there’s always help.
As such, the virus does not spread through saliva.
Antiviral medications can treat hepatitis C infections.
Hepatitis C can remain contagious for a few weeks to lifelong.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C prevalence estimates 2013-2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is hepatitis C?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexual transmission and viral hepatitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C questions and answers.
Dodge JL, Terrault NA.Sexual transmission of hepatitis C: a rare event among heterosexual couples.Journal of Coagulation Disorders.
2014;4(1):38-39.
2016;26(5):330-339. doi:10.1002/rmv.1890
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Blood safety basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing recommendations for hepatitis C virus infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C testing.
Hepatitis B Foundation.What’s the difference: hepatitis B vs. hepatitis C?
