Which hepatitis is airborne

Can live outside of the body for at least seven days. During that time, the virus is still capable of causing infection. A blood test is needed to diagnose hepatitis B virus, and vaccinations are available to protect people at high risk for infection. Learn more about Hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is most commonly spread by exposure to contaminated blood or needles.

The virus can survive outside of the body for up to four days. Symptoms for hepatitis Care similar to other types of hepatitis, and like hepatitis B, a blood test is needed for diagnosis. More than 90 percent of people who have chronic hepatitis C infection can be cured of their infection within eight to 12 weeks of treatment with oral medications. Learn more about Hepatitis C. People with hepatitis B often develop hepatitis D, which is spread through contaminated blood products and unprotected sex with a person who has the disease.

Hepatitis E virus is found in underdeveloped areas of the world and is spread by the fecal-oral route. Hepatitis B is spread by having sex with an infected person without a condom, sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, needlesticks or sharps exposures in a health care setting, or from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal birth. Exposure to blood in ANY situation can be a risk for transmission. It is spread when a person who is not immune comes in contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person.

Hepatitis C is spread through sharing needles or "works" when "shooting" drugs, through needlestick or sharps exposures in a health care setting, or sometimes from an infected mother to her baby during vaginal birth. It is possible to get hepatitis C from sex, but it is uncommon. Navigation menu. Section Menu Hepatitis Are you at risk? Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, meaning that a person must come into contact with blood that contains the virus to contract it. Most new cases of hepatitis C in the U.

Transmission can happen when a person with the virus shares needles or contaminated drugs with others. The hepatitis C virus is very difficult to kill, and even tiny spots of blood that are invisible to the human eye can contain the virus.

People can also contract the virus in healthcare settings through exposure to blood that contains the virus, such as through accidental needlesticks. Hepatitis C often has no symptoms. This means that a person can contract hepatitis C without knowing it. This makes it easier for them to transmit it to others.

For this reason, it is important that people with a higher risk of coming into contact with the hepatitis C virus know how to avoid contracting and transmitting it. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. Avoiding contact with infected blood is the only way to prevent the condition. The most common way for people to contract hepatitis C is by injecting street drugs. Because of this, the best way to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid injecting. Treatments can help many people quit.

People in the U. If a person finds it difficult to stop, they can reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis C by never sharing drug equipment, ensuring a clean, hygienic environment, and always using new equipment, including syringes, ties, alcohol swabs, cottons, and cookers.

People who may come into contact with infected blood, such as healthcare workers and caretakers, should always wash the hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact, or suspected contact, with blood.

People can also reduce their risk by making sure that any tattoo artist or body piercer they visit uses fresh, sterile needles and unopened ink.

The risk of contracting hepatitis C through sexual contact is low. Using barrier protection, such as condoms, reduces the risk of most sexually transmitted infections. There are many misconceptions about how hepatitis C spreads. People cannot transmit or contract the virus through:. Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic.

Acute infection occurs during the first 6 months after contracting it, while chronic infections can last a lifetime if the person does not seek treatment.

In many cases, hepatitis C causes no symptoms. This means that people may have the infection without knowing it. Also, it is important to note that people can transmit the virus even if they have no symptoms.