Important information about Hepatitis C
Find out about treatments, symptoms, and transmission of Hepatitis C

First of all, it is important to note that hepatitis can be caused by many things, such as poison, autoimmune disorders, lack of blood supply to the liver, an injury to the liver, and taking some medicines. However, hepatitis is most commonly caused by a virus. Hepatitis is commonly defined as an inflammation of the liver that causes soreness and swelling.
Acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis comprise the two main forms of hepatitis. The liver may become inflamed very suddenly when a person contracts hepatitis. This is called acute hepatitis, and it is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever and body aches. On the other hand, some people experience no symptoms at all. Although most people get over the acute inflammation in a few days or a few weeks, sometimes the inflammation doesn't go away. If the inflammation is permanent, then the hepatitis is classified as chronic.
What is hepatitis C?
Three main viruses cause hepatitis and these three are named A, B, and C. Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with blood products. This could mean being stuck with a dirty (used) needle, using IV drugs and sharing needles, or getting a blood transfusion before 1992. Most people don't feel sick when they are first infected with hepatitis C; the virus stays in their liver and causes chronic liver inflammation.
Although most people who are infected with hepatitis C don't have any symptoms for years, hepatitis C is a chronic illness (it doesn't go away) and may lead to cirrhosis (a liver disease) and liver cancer. It is important to be carefully supervised by a doctor if you are diagnosed with this disease, even if you experience no symptoms.
Hepatitis C transmission
Hepatitis C is usually transmitted through direct contact with the blood of a person who has the disease. The cause of hepatitis C is never found in many cases. This virus can be spread through sex, or it can also be transmitted from one person to another by living in the same house with someone who has hepatitis C. The disease can be transmitted through tattoo needles, or through sharing razors or toothbrushes. It can even be passed from a mother to her unborn baby. All of these ways of catching hepatitis C are uncommon, but they can occur.

In short, hepatitis C can't be spread unless a person has direct contact with infected blood. This means hepatitis C cannot be transmitted to others through casual contact such as sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, sneezing, coughing, shaking hands, hugging, kissing, swimming in a pool, using public toilets or touching doorknobs.