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Diseases » Chronic Hepatitis C » Risk Factors

Risk Factors for Chronic Hepatitis C

List of Risk Factors for Chronic Hepatitis C

The list of risk factors mentioned for Chronic Hepatitis C in various sources includes:

Risk factors discussion:

The major high-risk groups for hepatitis C are

People who had blood transfusions before June 1992, when sensitive tests for anti-HCV were introduced for blood screening.
People who have frequent exposure to blood products. These include patients with hemophilia, solid-organ transplants, chronic renal failure, or cancer requiring chemotherapy.
Health care workers who suffer needle-stick accidents.
Injection drug users, including those who used drugs briefly many years ago.
Infants born to HCV-infected mothers.

Other groups who appear to be at slightly increased risk for hepatitis C are

People with high-risk sexual behavior, multiple partners, and sexually transmitted diseases.
People who use cocaine, particularly with intranasal administration, using shared equipment.

(Source: excerpt from Chronic Hepatitis C Current Disease Management: NIDDK)

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Chronic Hepatitis C are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Chronic Hepatitis C makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Chronic Hepatitis C. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Chronic Hepatitis C. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.