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Can I Catch Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a chronic liver disease with potentially serious complications, including cirrhosis and liver failure. While hepatitis C is highly contagious, it can only be contracted under specific circumstances.

  1. Identification

    • Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes swelling in the liver. Over time, the liver may become permanently damaged, causing serious illness.

    Symptoms

    • Mayoclinic.com notes that most people with hepatitis C don't experience symptoms until years or even decades after they contract it. When symptoms do occur, they are usually flu-like and include nausea, fatigue and tenderness in the liver area.

    Common Causes

    • Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. The most common causes include sharing contaminated drug needles and blood transfusions or organ transplants that occurred before 1992.

    Uncommon Causes

    • Occasionally, hepatitis C is transmitted from mother to child during birth. Sexual transmission does occur, but it is rare. Long-term, monogamous sexual partners of people with hepatitis C are not considered at risk for transmission.

    Misconceptions

    • According to the Cleveland Clinic, there is no scientific evidence that hepatitis C can be transmitted through semen, saliva or tears. You will not contract hepatitis C from hugging, handshakes or kissing, unless both you and the other person have open wounds that make contact.

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