People contract hepatitis C primarily through direct exposure with infected human blood. This transfer of blood can happen through sharing personal care products like a razor, nail grooming kits or toothbrush, intravenous drug use, blood transfusion and organ recipients prior to 1992, dialysis patients and hemophiliacs.
In rare cases, infants born to infected mothers can contract the disease as well as people who get tattooing/body piercing with inadequately sterilized tools, and those who have unprotected sex with an infected partner. These incidences have a very low probability.
Some people who acquire HCV don’t necessarily need treatment because the body’s immune response will eliminate the infection. For those that become chronic, treatment is absolutely necessary.
For those 12 years and above, the 2018 guidelines from WHO suggest therapy with pan-genotype direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). This treatment can cure the majority of people with HCV infection with treatment time usually 12 to 24 weeks, depending if the person has cirrhosis.
There are currently other treatments for HCV as well that achieve sustained absence of detectable virus for 12 weeks after final treatment according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). For a complete list of currently approved FDA treatments, please visit www.hepatitisc.uw.edu/page/treatment/drugs
If there is any question that you may have contracted hepatitis C, see a doctor immediately. The earlier you are diagnosed, the better your chances of not infecting others and getting what you need to lead a healthy life.
For more information on screening and treatment for hepatitis C, visit www.cdc.gov, www.who.it , or contact your local department of health.