Can you still spread Hepatitis C after "treatment"?

My sister just found out she has Hepatitis C. She got it from injecting heroin with an unclean needle. She says her doctor mentioned treatment.

1- What is the treatments for Hepatitis C?

2- During or After treatment, is she still contagious?

Hep C is a virus, that is gotten through blood coming into contact with your blood stream ONLY! Not through saliva, not through semen/vaginal secretions, not through tears or sweat. It attacks the liver and uses liver cells to replicate itself causing inflammation (that is what hepatitis means - inflammation) Most of the time it becomes chronic and can cause cirrhosis or in some cases liver cancer.

During treatment she still could be infectious if the treatment is not working for her. After treatment, you won't know if she is still contagious until after 2 years post treatment...to make sure that it worked, in some cases it does come back, but 98% of the time you will know if it came back within 2 years post treatment. The doctor will usually do a test at the end of treatment, one 6 months after treatment and then a final one 2 years later.

As for the first poster - get your facts right, Pam Anderson chose not to do treatment because she wants to wait for something that isn't as "difficult" and has chosen the continuation of her wild lifestyle over getting better.

If you need to know anything else - please contact me directly via my profile. I will be more than happy to help any way I can.

I answered one of your other questions, but to recap...I am still virus free 5 years post treatment. So it can be "cured".

Shawn is correct.

Treatment will always consist of some form of Interferon and usually is in combination with an oral anti-viral such as Ribavirin. (that is, until something else becomes available).

The only time someone with hcv is contagious is when there is blood loss and that blood would have to enter the bloodstream of another in order for the disease to be acquired. If you don't share the risk factors, it doesn't matter if she does treatment or not as you will not become infected, therefore, it is not contagious in this sense.

HCV corpuscles found in all bodily fluids except that of blood are not contagious nor transferrable.

Those who have sustained the virus (whether on their own or with treatment) Once a person has hcv or is resolved,they continue to carry antibodies or "markers" of hcv infection. The person is no longer allowed to donate blood, however, they are allowed to donate organs to other heppers that have the same bloodtype and genotype of the hcv virus.

So, the answer is....a person cannot "spread" hcv unless they share high risk factors in spreading the disease- regardless of if they are resolved (cured) or not.

Treatment for Hepatitis C often includes Interferon and ribaviron.

She will always be contagious. Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily through contaminated blood, such as sharing needles for drug use, and sharing razors and toothbrushes with someone who has Hep C. Rarely, it is transmitted by sexual activity. It is not transmitted by saliva or by casual contact.

1- There actually are treatments for Hepatitis C, such a recombinant interferon, although they are definitely not cures.

2- Your sister will remain contagious for the rest of her life.

Hep-C is caused by a virus. Unless there's some remarkable breakthrough in medical science she'll always be contagious.

she must of heard wrong. unfortunately theirs no treatment against hep c at this time.

I think so.I don't think you can get over that.