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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is spread when you come in contact with contaminated blood.
Examples of how HCV can be spread include:
- Blood transfusions and organ transplants before 1992. Improved blood-screening tests became available in 1992. Before that year, it was possible to unknowingly contract hepatitis C through a blood transfusion or organ transplant.
- Shared needles. HCV can also spread through sharing contaminated needles when injecting drugs.
- Childbirth. A small number of babies born to mothers with hepatitis C acquire the infection during childbirth.
- Sexual contact. In rare cases, HCV may be transmitted sexually.
References
- Ghany MG, et al. AASLD practice guidelines: Diagnosis, management and treatment of hepatitis C: An update. Hepatology. 2009;49:1335.
- FAQs for the public. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/cFAQ.htm. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Hepatitis C. American Liver Foundation. http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/hepatitisc. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- What I need to know about hepatitis C. National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hepc_ez/index.htm. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- Viral hepatitis screening. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. http://www.aasld.org/yourliver/Pages/ViralHepatitisScreening.aspx. Accessed July 24, 2009.
- CAM and hepatitis C: A focus on herbal supplements. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc. Accessed July 24, 2009.
