Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that causes parasites that infect human liver cells. They are very small, but their reproduction leads to cell death, which becomes the cause of the inflammatory process in the liver - viral hepatitis C. In most cases, this disease cannot go away on its own and becomes chronic.
The peculiarity of hepatitis C is that for a very long period of time it is asymptomatic. But at the same time, the infection continues to develop, and a person, without even suspecting it, is a source of infection. The number of people with this disease is high enough, so everyone should know how hepatitis C. is transmitted.
There are the following hepatitis C infections:
- In contact with infected blood or its components;
- Sexual;
- From mother to baby during his gestation and childbirth.
Infection through the blood can occur not only during transfusion. Very often, it occurs through used syringes, filters, needles, etc. You can get infected by using scissors and other manicure accessories, razors or toothbrushes. Using an improperly crafted instrument during piercing, tattooing, and even dental treatment can lead to infection.
In the same way that hepatitis C is transmitted , that is, through sexual contact , there is an infection with sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, hepatitis B. The risk of infection is especially high in people who have erratic contacts with many partners.
Cases of transmission of the virus from a sick mother to a child during pregnancy and childbirth account for no more than 5%, with approximately half of these children being cured of it on their own.
Knowing how hepatitis C is transmitted and observing not very complex rules, you can protect yourself from this disease. In medical institutions, the control over the instruments used is very strict, which allows us to talk about the minimum risk of infection. Often, infection occurs through non-sterile syringes that addicts use. This fact is another reason to leave this addiction.
Personal hygiene items , including manicure tools, a toothbrush, a razor, should be stored separately. In case you come to the salon to get a manicure, pedicure, piercing or tattoo, pay attention to the tools that the specialist is going to use. If they are not disposable, turn 180 degrees and leave. Hepatitis C virus has a high pathogenicity, so you can get infected by contact even with a minimal amount of blood, which is practically invisible.
When having sex, you need to protect yourself with condoms and monitor the condition of the mucous membranes. If they have microtraumas or cracks, then the risk of infection increases significantly.
In order to prevent intrauterine infection of the fetus, the expectant mother should be observed by an infectious disease specialist, who will give detailed recommendations to avoid the aggravation of the disease and give birth to a healthy baby.
The consequences of hepatitis C are very serious. With this disease, the work of the liver is very complicated and any additional loads, such as alcohol, drugs, poor nutrition, can lead to a disease such as cirrhosis of the liver, and sometimes cancer. In addition, damage to the kidneys, nervous system, skin, joints, lungs and other organs and systems is possible.
Knowledge of how hepatitis C is transmitted and adherence to generally accepted rules can significantly reduce the likelihood of infection. But in case you or your loved ones have this disease, you should not despair. In the treatment of the chronic form of hepatitis C, it is possible to achieve long-term remission, and in the acute form, 20% of patients fully recover.