by Sandra Douglas

Created on: August 26, 2010

People infected with hepatitis C can usually expect to carry the virus for the rest of their lives. They are naturally concerned, as are their families and loved ones, asking “Can I give hepatitis C to someone else?”

The virus that causes hepatitis C attacks the liver. Some people may not have any symptoms of the disease for many years, and in fact may not know they have it until a blood test surprisingly reveals elevated liver enzymes. Others experience an acute illness with fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal tenderness, and weight loss. Those who have acute hepatitis C usually recover without any permanent liver damage.

The reason that hepatitis C is such a serious disease is that eventually, the liver becomes damaged by the attacking viruses. The disease advances to liver failure and cirrhosis, and liver cancer occur in people who have hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is passed through the contact of infected blood. This contact can occur in several ways but it is easy to prevent passing the virus to someone else.

Injectable Drugs

People who use injectable drugs are at high risk of contracting hepatitis C, especially if they share needles with others, or use unsterilized needles, syringes, or paraphernalia. Those who get tattoos are also at risk of picking up the virus from poorly sterilized tattoo equipment. If you have hepatitis C and use injectable drugs, and this includes prescription drugs as well as illegal drug use, dispose of your used needles in a puncture proof container to prevent exposing another person. Never share your injectable equipment.

Blood Donation and Transfusion

Because hepatitis C is transmitted through infected blood, people with hepatitis C are not allowed to donate blood. Since 1992, all donated blood has been tested for hepatitis so that the risk of passing the virus through a blood transfusion or through blood products has been eliminated. You cannot get hepatitis C by receiving or donating blood.

Sexual Transmission

It is rare for hepatitis C to be passed between monogamous sexual partners. In a survey of people with hepatitis C who had spouses or monogamous partners, less than 5% of them had partners who also had hepatitis C, and that includes those partners who themselves had behaviors that put them at risk for hepatitis C such as intravenous drug use. Cases that involve the spreading of hepatitis C between stable, monogamous sex partners is less than 1% per year. Doctors do not recommend that people in stable

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