Hepatitis C and mother-to-child transmission

  Both sexual and mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C are significantly lower than those of HIV and hepatitis B. Some studies have shown that the infection rate of hepatitis C between spouses is about 10%, but the infection factor is not due to sexual transmission, but mainly due to blood exposure in the life of the couple, such as sharing syringes, razors, toothbrushes, tattoos, etc. This blood exposure can also lead to hepatitis C infection in other members of the family, while the transmission rate of hepatitis C between spouses in the absence of blood exposure is very low. Five studies in the United States confirmed that the average rate of hepatitis C virus infection between spouses in the absence of blood exposure was 1.5% with long-term sexual intercourse with a hepatitis C virus-infected person, with an estimated rate of 0 to 0.6% per year among individual spouses and 1% per year among sexually promiscuous people. Most of the literature reports that the rate of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C ranges from 2% to 8%. In one literature analysis, the average mother-to-child transmission rate was 1.7% for all pregnant women who tested positive for hepatitis C antibody and 4.3% to 7.8% for pregnant women who also tested positive for HCV RNA.  Prevention of intra-family and sexual transmission of hepatitis C should take care that family members do not share syringes, razors, toothbrushes, etc., and that utensils such as piercings and tattoos should be strictly disinfected to prevent blood exposure to the hepatitis C virus. Those with a history of sexual promiscuity should be examined regularly, managed better, and safe sexual intercourse should be used to avoid sexual transmission of hepatitis C. 40% to 82% of people infected with hepatitis C virus can be cured by treatment with interferon combined with ribavirin. Therefore, treatment of hepatitis C is the best way to prevent intra-family, sexual and mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C. Therefore, women with hepatitis C virus infection should be treated before having children and cured before becoming pregnant. Mothers with hepatitis C virus infection who are not cured or already pregnant should be tested for HCV RNA, an indicator of hepatitis C virus replication. If positive for HCV RNA, amniocentesis should be avoided to minimize the duration of delivery, ensure the integrity of the placenta, reduce the exposure of the newborn to maternal blood, and try to avoid mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C.