Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Long After Exposure To Hepatitis C Can You Give
Question: how long after exposure to hepatitis c can you give it to others?
Brief Answer:
Contagiosity varies greatly but a person can be contagious even the first couple of weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask a Doctor' service,
The time a patient can be contagious after being in contact with hepatitis C varies greatly from weeks to months. It is possible though that one can transmit the infection to someone else the first couple of weeks.
On the other hand, the blood tests for Hepatitis C may take a few weeks to months to come positive and detect the infection. The patient may still be infected and risk spreading it to others even though the tests do not identify the infection.
Transmission is mostly favored by direct contact with blood. Mostly through blood transfusion, tattoos or needle pricks contaminated with blood and less often as a sexually transmitted infection.
In case you suspect you may have been at risk for hepatitis C you will need to inform your doctor and probably you may have the test now. If it comes as negative (which is very likely to be negative within the first weeks of contact), then it has to be repeated in 2 months and then in 6 months. If all the tests within 6 months are negative, it is sure there is no hepatitis C.
I hope this addresses your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family physician
Contagiosity varies greatly but a person can be contagious even the first couple of weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to 'Ask a Doctor' service,
The time a patient can be contagious after being in contact with hepatitis C varies greatly from weeks to months. It is possible though that one can transmit the infection to someone else the first couple of weeks.
On the other hand, the blood tests for Hepatitis C may take a few weeks to months to come positive and detect the infection. The patient may still be infected and risk spreading it to others even though the tests do not identify the infection.
Transmission is mostly favored by direct contact with blood. Mostly through blood transfusion, tattoos or needle pricks contaminated with blood and less often as a sexually transmitted infection.
In case you suspect you may have been at risk for hepatitis C you will need to inform your doctor and probably you may have the test now. If it comes as negative (which is very likely to be negative within the first weeks of contact), then it has to be repeated in 2 months and then in 6 months. If all the tests within 6 months are negative, it is sure there is no hepatitis C.
I hope this addresses your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family physician
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
