Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and damage. It’s transmitted through:
1. Blood-to-blood contact: Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment for injecting drugs
2. Unprotected sex: Rarely, through sexual contact with an infected person
3. Blood transfusions: Receiving contaminated blood, although rare in developed countries
4. Mother-to-child transmission: During childbirth, from an infected mother to her baby
5. Sharing personal items: Rarely, through sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers contaminated with infected blood
6. Tattooing or piercing: Using contaminated equipment
7. Occupational exposure: Healthcare workers exposed to infected blood through needlesticks or cuts
Hepatitis C is not spread through: