HCV Confusion

[roy5699]

Hi Doctor,

Recently I've some confusion about how a person can catch HCV and I wish some professional will be able to help on this.  I browsed a lot of mix information from different site about how HCV is contacted.  

1.  Some said there must be a wound in the recipient in order to catch the HCV virus?

2.  While some just said with usual skin contact without wound is enough to catch HCV virus?

Which one is more reliable.

[hrsepwrguy]

How is Hepatitis C spread?

Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, Hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

People can become infected with the Hepatitis C virus during such activities as

Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs

Needlestick injuries in health care settings
  
Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C

Less commonly, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus infection through

Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
  
Having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus
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What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?

Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm

[roy5699]

Thanks I know...but can the virus from infected person enter to another uninfected person on normal skin contact? I mean normal skin for uninfected person without any crack or wound on the skin? Or there must be a wound or something for the virus to enter into the bloodstream?

[MHEditor]

Here's some information on Hep C and how it's spread from MedHelp.org.

http://www.medhelp.org/hepatitis-c/articles/What-Is-Hepatitis-C/2251

Please be aware there are no longer doctors on this site. This is a community of people who have had Hep C or who create information for Hep C patients and consumers.

[flyinlynn]

We are not doctors we are a support community of hep c patients.

Hep c is a blood borne virus which means it requires blood to blood contact to be transmitted. Hep c infected blood must enter the blood stream through an open wound.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/cFAQ.htm

How is Hepatitis C spread?
Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before 1992, when widespread screening of the blood supply began in the United States, Hepatitis C was also commonly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

[flyinlynn]

Oops I see you were already answered by hrsepwrguy.

[hrsepwrguy]

"but can the virus from infected person enter to another uninfected person on normal skin contact? I mean normal skin for uninfected person without any crack or wound on the skin?"

No

What are ways Hepatitis C is not spread?

Hepatitis C virus is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm