The possibility of transmission must be considered when a woman with hepatitis C is deciding whether to have children. For infants who have received the hepatitis C virus from their mother, brief elevations of liver enzymes may occur, but no chronic liver disease has been reported. There have been no reports of cirrhosis in newborns, infants or child due to mother-to-child hepatitis C infection.

Perhaps, a Hep C positive mum has only a 5% chance of passing the Hepatitis C virus to her baby when it is being born (A one in twenty risk). Babies born to Hep C positive mums should only be tested at around 18 months old to make sure that any antibodies from the mum will have cleared away.

There is no evidence that hepatitis C can be spread from mother to child through breastfeeding. However, if you are undergoing treatment for hepatitis C, the drugs you are taking may not be safe during breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue breastfeeding while you are being treated.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is spread mostly from contact with infected blood, such as a blood transfusion (before 1992), kidney dialysis, or through injecting drug use. It is rarely sexually transmitted, although sex with multiple partners or a history of sexually transmitted diseases can put people at risk for it. The virus can enter the body through minor cuts or scrapes by razors, toothbrushes or on needles used for tattooing, body piercing or on materials used to snort drugs.

HBsAg is the ONLY test that indicates that a woman has an active HBV infection that can be transmitted to her infant. If a woman is found to be HBsAg positive, the most useful additional test would the IgM anti-HBc with a repeat HBsAg which would tell if the woman has an acute infection or if she is chronically infected. Chronicity can also be determined by two positive HBsAg tests six months, or more, apart.

It is essential that children are NOT conceived when either parent is on treatment. The Ribavirin is fetotoxic, in other words it can cause birth defects. This toxicity is present in the eggs and the sperm. So whether you are male or female you should not start a family while on treatment, to make sure that this doesn't happen using 2 forms of contraception at the same time is recommended i.e. being on the pill and using condoms.

Pregnant women can have some light irregular bleeding during pregnancy, but it should not be like a “normal” period. Some women can confuse this for their period because often it can come right around the time she was expecting her normal period. The irregular bleeding or spotting that can occur during pregnancy is often a dark brown color or a light pinkish. It should not be enough bleeding to fill pads or tampons over a few days.

In most cases, people infected with hepatitis C experience no symptoms. Hepatitis C is a very slow moving virus, so symptoms my not even present themselves for 20 years or longer. The most common symptoms of hepatitis C are fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle or joint pain, and jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes).

Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus, and is transmitted through direct blood-to-blood contact. The most common ways for hepatitis C to be transmitted is through sharing needles with an infected person, having had a blood transfusion prior to 1992, sharing personal care items such has razors that could have infected blood on them, and from mother to child during childbirth. in rare cases, hepatitis C can be transmitted through sex.

Hepatitis C is interesting in that about 15% of people who get the infection can clear the virus completely out of their bodies naturally within the first 6 months of their infection. This means that those people are no longer infected and can no longer spread the virus to other people. However, 85% of people with hepatitis C will become chronic carriers. These people will always be capable of transmitting the virus to others through blood.

Yes. People who have cleared the virus either naturally or through medication can become infected again. Also, people who have active hepatitis C can become infected with additional genotypes (strains) of hepatitis C.

Doctors and scientists recognized a type of hepatitis in the early 1970's that they called Non-A, non-B hepatitis. In 1987, they discovered that it was a unique virus and named it Hepatitis C.

Since 1992, antibody tests have been available to determine if people have been infected. Today, people can have these tests performed at their doctors' offices. For people with no insurance, there are some clinics that can also perform the tests for free or reduced fees. For people who would like to get tested, it is a good idea to wait between 3-6 months from the last time they had a risk of infection before they go in for the test.

Avoiding alcohol (even small amounts) is extremely important. Tylenol and other over-the-counter and prescription drugs can also cause liver damage. High iron diets can cause damage. Good nutrition, exercise, and sleep are helpful in keeping the liver healthy.

Hepatitis A (HAV) is caused by a virus found in feces (people's stool). You can get it by coming in contact with infected feces. The most common way is by swallowing food or liquids that get contaminated by hands that are not washed thoroughly after using the toilet. You can also get Hepatitis A through sexual acts like 'rimming' (licking someone's anus) or via oral sex on a male's penis after he has had anal sex.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Topics A-Z: Hepatitis (Viral) "Hepatitis A FAQ", "Hepatitis B FAQ", Hepatitis C FAQ"