Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral condition that causes the liver to become inflamed, which can lead to liver damage. As Family Doctor explains, there are multiple viruses that cause hepatitis, and each virus is given a different letter of the alphabet. Hepatitis C infections lead to chronic hepatitis, which means the virus lingers inside the body for the rest of the patient's life. Because the disease progresses so slowly, many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms for many years. These people are still able to transmit hepatitis C to other people via blood.
Drug Users
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases notes that hepatitis C is spread via exposure to infected bodily fluids (such as blood). The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases notes that the most common way for hepatitis C to be spread is through intravenous drug users who share needles. The needles used for intravenous drug administration often become contaminated with blood. Most new hepatitis C infections occur among drug users.
Other Routes
Hepatitis C can also be spread via other methods. Any activity that can cause infected blood to be spread from one person to the next can lead to a hepatitis C infection. In the past, receiving blood or blood products from an infected donor caused hepatitis C transmission, although this occurs less frequently now because of improved screening of donated blood. It can also be spread via the sharing of toothbrushes or razors. Hepatitis C can spread by an accidental finger stick, which occurs when a person who is handling a needle contaminated with the virus accidentally sticks himself with the needle. It can also be spread during sexual intercourse, especially during "rough" or anal intercourse.
