-
IV
drug users – by sharing blood contaminated needles.
·
Tattoo or body piercing customers – if non-sterile needles are used
·
Health care workers with frequent blood contact.
·
Some sexual or intimate partners – the risk of transmission between steady
(monogamous) practices
for persons with a steady sexual partner. However persons with multiple
partners may be at somewhat higher risk of becoming infected, and practicing
“safe sex” is indicated for the prevention of many sexually transmitted
diseases.
·
Blood transfusion recipients – where the blood donor was infected with
hepatitis C virus. This type of spread became very uncommon when
blood banks began discouraging persons at risk for HIV and hepatitis from
donating blood in 1983. The risk has been reduced further now that
blood banks screen all donors for hepatitis C antibody and destroy any
blood that tests positive.
Other
person to whom hepatitis C may infrequently be spread:
·
Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis C carriers.
·
Mentally retarded residents of institutions who have contact with hepatitis
C carriers – through biting and combative behaviors, sexual contact, and
occasionally sharing of personal items such as blood contaminated tooth
brushes and wash cloths.
Hepatitis
C virus is not spread through casual contact or in typical school, office,
or food service setting. It is not spread by coughing, sneezing,
or drinking out of the same glass.
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How
can you avoid getting it?
·
When handling blood-contaminated objects or surfaces, wear plastic, latex,
or rubber gloves. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
if they become contaminated with blood. Wash blood contaminated surfaces
with soap and water, and then disinfect with a 10% bleach solution
·
Disposable blood-contaminated items should be bagged before discarding.
·
Avoid sharing personal items such as washcloths, razors, toothbrushes,
and gum
·
Prevent aggressive (biting) behavior.
·
Health care personnel need to wear gloves when caring for patients with
bleeding or oozing wounds, or when in contact with other bodily secretions.
Do NOT recap needles; dispose of needles in sharps containers.
·
Dishes, eating utensils, toilet facilities, swimming pools and water fountains
require only the usual recommended cleaning procedures and are NOT sources
of hepatitis C exposure.
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How
can you find out if you are infected?
Have
a blood test (ELISA or RIBA) to detect hepatitis C antibody, or a blood
test to detect the virus, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
A
positive blood test for the hepatitis C antibody can mean the following:
1.
Recent
or Acute Infection – this diagnosis is usually made
if a person has typical signs and symptoms of hepatitis, blood tests showing
markedly elevated liver function, and negative tests for hepatitis A and
B.
2.
Chronic
Carrier – A chronic carrier is a person who has been
infected for more then 6 months and who continues to carry the virus.
The carrier usually does not have obvious signs or symptoms of hepatitis
although there may be vague symptoms and abnormal liver function tests.
Over time the virus may cause serious liver damage (cirrhosis or live cancer),
and carriers should be followed closely by a physician. The carrier
patient may be referred to a doctor specializing in the treatment of liver
disease. Current method of treating chronic hepatitis C infection
are not effective for all patients, though some patients will benefit from
treatment with alpha-interferon B and other anti-viral medications.
Vaccination again hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses should be considered
for persons who are chronically infected with hepatitis C.
3.
Immunity
– Once infected, most people do not develop immunity to the virus.
4.
False
Positive Test – The blood test in not 100% accurate.
Sometime the test is positive even though the person has never been infected
with hepatitis C. Use of a different test may indicate that the initial
test was not a true positive, and that the person does not have hepatitis
C.
5.
False
Negative Test – In some persons, it may take several
months after the onset of the illness for the hepatitis C antibody test
to become positive, although these persons may have abnormal liver function
tests and symptoms of hepatitis. The test may be positive if re-run
at a later time.
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