Hepatitis C

How Hepatitis C Spreads

You can get hepatitis C through exposure to the blood or body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis C is not spread by water, food or by casual contact such as coughing, handshakes, shared eating utensils, toilet seats or hugging. 

The hepatitis C virus can be spread if you: 

• Have health care (medical/dental) or cosmetic procedures in parts of the world where hepatitis C is more common. 
• Use shared personal hygiene equipment with a known/unknown infected person, such as scissors, nail clippers, nail files, razors, and/or toothbrushes.  
• Use shared health care equipment meant for individual use, such as needles (or lancets) for diabetic monitoring of blood sugars. 
• Have medical, dental, and/or other health care procedures with equipment or instruments that have not been disinfected and/or sterilized properly. 
• Are exposed to blood and/or body fluids through sharps or needlestick injuries.  
• Have procedures with spa and aesthetic instruments, tattoo, and/or piercing equipment that have not been cleaned and disinfected and/or sterilized properly. 
• Have unprotected sexual contact involving blood during vaginal, anal, and/or oral sex (e.g., during menstruation, or if there is a tearing of the skin or tissue).  
• Share substance use equipment, such as needles, straws, pipes, spoons, cookers. 
• Were born to an infected parent (through childbirth or at home).  
• Received a blood transfusion or blood product before 1992. After this date, sensitive blood screening tests were introduced. 

Symptoms & Illness

Most people infected with hepatitis C show no symptoms at first. They may not be aware of their infection and can spread the virus unknowingly. For those who have symptoms, the most common include: 

• Feeling tired 
• Reduced appetite 
• Sore muscles and joints 
• Nausea 
• Abdominal pain 
• Dark urine 
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes). 

Testing & Treatment

Hepatitis C infection can be diagnosed through a blood test ordered by your health care provider. A health care provider can assess the need for treatment and/or referral to a specialist if required.

Hepatitis C infection can be treated with antiviral medication. 

Health Canada has approved several treatments and hepatitis C can be cured, preventing the progression of liver disease and further virus spread. Talk to your health care provider or a liver specialist about getting treatment.  

You can also self-refer for hepatitis C treatment in Toronto through the Ontario Hepatitis C Teams Network. 

Prevention

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.  

There are many things you can do to prevent getting or spreading hepatitis C: 

• See your health care provider as soon as possible if you think you have been exposed to hepatitis C. 
• Use safer sex practices including always using condoms/barriers. 
• Tell your sexual partners if you have hepatitis C. 
• Do not share drug equipment (needles, syringes, etc.). 
• If visiting a personal service setting such as a tattoo or piercing (ear/body) shop, check that they use sterile equipment. 
• Do not share personal care items, such as razors, toothbrushes, glucometers, or manicure tools. 
• Use protective equipment such as gloves to prevent contact with other people’s blood and body fluids.
• Talk to your health care provider before donating blood, organs, tissues or sperm if you have hepatitis C or are waiting on test results for hepatitis C. 
• Follow up with routine prenatal care for each pregnancy so that newborns can receive appropriate care if required. 

Hepatitis C in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

There does not appear to be an increased risk of complications in pregnancy when someone is infected with hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C is not commonly passed from a pregnant individual to their baby; however, it is possible. Approximately 5 per cent of babies born to mothers with hepatitis C become infected with the virus. Individuals who have higher levels of hepatitis C virus in their blood (higher viral load) and also those co-infected with HIV, have a higher risk of transmitting hepatitis C to their baby at birth. 

Breastfeeding is not considered a risk for transmission; however, if the nipples are bleeding or cracked, it is recommended that the person stop breastfeeding until they have healed.