Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen that spreads through contact with infected blood. The HCV infection might be acute, short-term, chronic, or long-term. The acute infection is usually self-limiting, but in many cases, the virus doesn’t die, resulting in a long-term chronic infection. Chronic infection might lead to portal hypertension, cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. There is no vaccination to prevent Hepatitis C, but we can use certain medicines, like direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), to improve the therapeutic outcome. However, prevention is always better than cure, so let’s review how to prevent hepatitis C.
Ways to prevent hepatitis C
HCV is an RNA virus that enters the liver cells through endocytosis and starts dividing rapidly. The virus travels into the bloodstream of the infected patients, and if the infected blood comes into contact with a healthy person, they get the HCV infection. As there is no HCV vaccination yet, it is crucial to follow other well-known safety measures to prevent Hepatitis C.
Here are some ways to prevent Hepatitis C.
Abstaining from direct exposure to blood and blood products:
Direct exposure to blood might happen accidentally or occupationally. Accidentally, it might occur if someone with HCV infection gets injured and you are in close contact with that person. Occupationally, it might happen to healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, phlebotomists, etc., who work in direct contact with patients. Take proper precautions and safety measures to avoid direct blood contact.Abstaining from needle and sharp object sharing:
Needles and sharp objects like razor blades might have blood on their surfaces, which can infect other people. Avoid injecting intravenous drugs through shared needles, which is one of the most common ways to spread HCV. People using restricted drugs and snorting cocaine often use and share straws that might contain blood micro-droplets from nose bleeding. So, sharing straws for snorting is also a way to spread HCV.Unsafe skin piercing and tattoos:
If you decide to have a skin piercing or tattoo, use disposable needles and practice adequate sanitation.Abstaining from sharing personal care objects:
Our daily care objects include many sharp things like razor blades, nail clippers, hair clippers, scissors, and even toothbrushes that might have blood on them. Sharing these objects might expose a person to HCV-infected blood.Abstaining from unsafe sex:
Engaging in unsafe sex and intercourse with several partners increases the risk of contracting HCV. People with HIV infection or another sexually transmitted disease are more likely to contract HCV.
Conclusion
Hepatitis C is a health threat with serious repercussions. Acute infections present with symptoms like nausea, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, and jaundice. Such acute infections may go undiagnosed, and diagnosis is possible when symptoms outweigh those of chronic infections, thus making prevention a better measure. In the absence of vaccination, it is important to avoid practices that may lead to HCV infection. Additionally, securing a comprehensive health insurance policy can provide essential coverage for any unexpected medical needs related to such infections.