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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Gastrointestinal Infections
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1790591
Patient Education

Patient Education: Hepatitis C Infection

Parul Berry
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
,
Sahil Khanna 
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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What Is Hepatitis C and How Do People Catch the Infection?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a virus that infects the liver, leading to inflammation and, over time, can cause serious liver damage, like scarring (cirrhosis) or liver cancer. Each year, around 1 million people get infected with HCV.[1]

The virus spreads through exposure to infected blood. The most common way people catch it is by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. It can also spread through sharing razors or other personal items that may have blood on them. Other ways include the following:

  • Blood transfusions prior to initiation of screening using second-generation antibody tests.

  • Using infected needles for tattooing, acupuncture, or piercings.

  • Accidental injuries with used needles in health care settings.

The virus rarely transmits from mothers to newborns and may spread through sexual activities. However, it does not spread through breast milk, food, water, or casual contact such as hugging, kissing, or sharing food with an infected person.

Ethical Statement

Not applicable.


Author Contributions

All the authors contributed equally to the article.


Data Availability Statement

There are no data associated with this work.




Publication History

Received: 08 July 2024

Accepted: 19 August 2024

Article published online:
18 September 2024

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