Which groups of people need to be on the alert for hepatitis C infection? Currently, the hepatitis C virus is known to be transmitted in three main ways: i. Blood transmission Blood and blood products are the nesting place for the virus. Because of prior technology and lack of knowledge about hepatitis C, it was impossible to monitor blood for hepatitis C antibodies before 1993, so people who received blood from others before 1993 were at high risk for infection. After this time universal screening was carried out, but there was a window period of antibody (just infected has not yet produced antibody markers in time but has the virus) there are still a few people who receive blood transfusions with hepatitis C virus. People who have been doing hemodialysis for a long time need to be screened for hepatitis C frequently. Second, broken skin and mucous membrane transmission Broken skin and mucous membrane is a very important way to transmit hepatitis C. In informal medical institutions without strict sterilization of equipment is also an important route of transmission, such as small clinics to pull teeth, do minor surgery, acupuncture, gastroscopy enteroscopy, any puncture skin operations, are likely to be infected. There are also earrings, tattoos, eyebrow tattoos, shaving (shaving face), hairdressing tools, toothbrushes may be infected with hepatitis C. Avoid the above mentioned behaviors in the first place, and have HCVRNA checked regardless of whether you have symptoms or not. In some areas, 60% to 90% of people are infected with hepatitis C virus because of intravenous drug use. So refuse drugs to stay away from hepatitis C! Sexual transmission People who have multiple sexual partners are more likely to be infected with hepatitis C virus and should be reviewed regularly. For your own safety and the safety of your partner, it is best to have sex “from one partner to the next”. Mother-to-child transmission Mother-to-child transmission is also contagious. Studies have shown that the risk of transmitting the virus to a newborn baby is 2% for mothers who are positive for hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV); if the mother is positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV-RNA) at the time of delivery, the risk of the newborn baby contracting the virus increases to 4%-7%. Therefore, it is important for women of childbearing age to be checked for hepatitis C before preparing for pregnancy. Whether or not mothers with hepatitis C can breastfeed is debatable and should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. All of the above-mentioned groups should be checked for hepatitis C infection at the hospital, regardless of whether they have symptoms of liver disease or not. Only three tubes of blood (liver function, HCV RNA, hepatitis C antibody) are needed.