How is Hepatitis C spread?

Question

Is it spread through blood alone?

My Mom's boyfriend just informed her that he has it, and I am now concerned that my mom may have it as well.

Answer 1

punky, you've been given a bunch of wrong information regarding hcv....
hcv is caused by blood to blood exposure ONLY.
hcv corpuscles found in semen, vaginal fluid, tears, saliva and mucus are NOT transferrable because it is only part of the virus or dead viron cells.

the only way to aquire hcv is through blood, so if no blood is present, the chances of acquiring hcv is NULL and VOID.

many studies have been done on couples where one partner has hcv. hcv can only spread to the infected partner from blood to blood exposure. chances are if it did spread from one infected to the non infected it was done so by household exposure, ie, sharing a toothbrush (they are abrasive which can cause the gums to bleed, leaving infected blood on it and then the noninfected using the toothbrush causing the gums to bleed or maybe an open wound near or in the mouth). otherways of household exposure are sharing razors.
a person has a much higher chance of infection this way than that of sex simply because normal sexual relations do not cause bleeding.

i know many couples where one is infected and the other is not. hcv is more difficult to spread between to sexually active members than any other way. again, chances are about .06%. the reason for this is low because of the statements i made above.

i had hcv since i was very young-meaning, i didn't even know what sex or drugs were. i have never given anyone i have been with hcv. i have two healthy boys who are uneffected by hcv as well.

there are over 4 million in the united states with hepatitis c and most do not even know it. the virus attacks the liver in order to make it's virons (they change their genetic makeup) which in turn causes chronic infection. this can lead to other organ involvement and can cause more than just liver disease.

chances of your mother becoming infected (if she hasn't been exposed prior to this boyfriend) are bascially not too much to worry about, however, everyone should wear protection out of pure respect for their bodies.

you have a reason to be concerned, but simply because she's your mother more than you have to be concerned about hcv actually causing infection. the chances are THAT low.

if you need more answers, you can call the liver foundation and they will probably tell you more of the same.

again, hcv is not spread through sexual intercourse or anyother way unless there is a way for the infected blood to enter the direct bloodstream of the other.

hence BLOOD TO BLOOD ONLY-this is why hcv is not considered a "true" std!

Folks....you've given a couple of authentic ways of passing hcv, but remember...hcv is a blood to blood disease. HCV corpuscles found in other bodily fluids other than that of blood are not a way to contract hcv!

last but not least, there are a million ways to contract hepatitis c because blood can be on virtually anything (dried or wet) and if it's got the perfect opportunity to get into the bloodstream, you can catch it!

with that being said please do not seek places where hcv is highly transmittable.....
nail salons (unless you bring your own instruments)
peircing stations, tattoo parlors......sharing drug paraphenalia ect.....

to be on the safe side, pay attention.....any object a person could possibly cause a person to cut themselves, can cut you too!

there is no vaccination for hcv but it can be cured! a lot has to do with what genotype a person has and treatment. a sustained viral response to antiviral chemotherapy medications post a year or more after treatment a person is considered cured...i am a walking example! i am post 5 years antiviral chemotherapy and althought i test positive for antibodies, i no longer have the active damage causing virons in my body.

if your moms boyfriend has hcv, he should not be drinking alcohol of any kind and be on a more body friendly diet, ie, little or no red meats, nothing containing iron ect.
there are many side effects from having hcv like skin rashes, depression, brain fog, other cns involvement as well as other "bi-directional" diseases (damage to other organs).

thanks for asking....caring is what this world doesn't seem to go around enough these days. i was happy to answer this question for you and if you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to get into touch with me.

good luck!

Answer 2

Blood to Blood ONLY!

Not by any other means. Don't listen to all the ignorant posters saying it's anything else. It's not in body fluids. You have to have very bloody sex to get it that way.

Make sure she doesn't share toothbrushes and razors or needles with him and she'll be just fine.

Answer 3

You could get hepatitis C by sharing drug needles... getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (hospital workers can get hepatitis C this way)...having sex with an infected person, especially if you or your partner has other sexually transmitted diseases...being born to a mother with hepatitis C

Answer 4

It also goes through the liver and can lead to liver cancer. It is a virus of the bloodstream which means its coming in contact with just about every organ. And its not curable only treatable which means she can take meds to cut the number of outbreaks. But as long as they used a condom she should be safe. If I were her I would dump the dude.

Answer 5

It is the sharing of bodily fluids that spread it as well as IV needles. You mother should be checked...if she hasn't contracted it yet from him...which she may very well have.

Answer 6

it's not spread just through blood
sharing needles
unprotected sex

i hope she dosen't have it hun
good luck to you and her