Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Hepatitis C

• Most cases of hepatitis C are caused by sharing contaminated needles to inject street drugs.
• Since 1991, all blood donated in the UK is checked for the hepatitis C virus. Some people who received blood transfusions and blood products before this were infected with hepatitis C from donor blood.
• If you have a blood transfusion or medical treatment abroad, where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, the virus may be transmitted.
• Occasionally people are infected through bodily fluids such as saliva, but this is rare. It may also be transmitted by vaginal or anal intercourse, although this too seems to be a very rare occurrence.
•  It can be passed on through sharing of toothbrushes, scissors and razors. Also, from using equipment, which is not sterile for tattooing, body piercing, etc.
•  There is a small risk that an infected mother can pass on the infection to her baby.

 The virus is not transmitted during normal social contact, such as hugging, sharing cups etc.

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