What is a common transmission route for Hepatitis C?

What is a common transmission route for Hepatitis C?

• A. Parenteral transmission (IV drug use and blood transfusions)
• B. Fecal-oral transmission
• C. Airborne transmission
• D. Sexual transmission

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis C is primarily a blood-borne virus, so the most common way people acquire it is through exposure to infected blood. This is most often seen with sharing needles for intravenous drug use and with blood transfusions or other blood exposures from before widespread screening of blood products. Fecal-oral transmission is typical for Hepatitis A and E, not Hepatitis C. Airborne spread isn’t a route for HCV, and while sexual transmission can occur, it’s much less common and not the main pathway. Recognizing that blood-to-blood contact drives most hepatitis C infections helps explain why parenteral exposure is the usual route.

Hepatitis C is primarily a blood-borne virus, so the most common way people acquire it is through exposure to infected blood. This is most often seen with sharing needles for intravenous drug use and with blood transfusions or other blood exposures from before widespread screening of blood products. Fecal-oral transmission is typical for Hepatitis A and E, not Hepatitis C. Airborne spread isn’t a route for HCV, and while sexual transmission can occur, it’s much less common and not the main pathway. Recognizing that blood-to-blood contact drives most hepatitis C infections helps explain why parenteral exposure is the usual route.