Patient's question:
I had a long conversation (over two hours) with a close hepatitis C patient. I was sitting while she stood right next to me. A tiny amount of saliva splashed into my inflamed eye (with symptoms like redness, blood spots, burning sensation, and foreign body sensation). Could I get hepatitis C from this situation?Doctor's answer:
Sexual intercourse, passionate kissing, chills, coughing, food, drinking, sharing utensils and cups generally do not spread HCV. After acute infection with the hepatitis C virus, HCVRNA can be detected in peripheral blood 1 to 3 weeks later. The incubation period is usually 2 to 26 weeks, with an average of 50 days; surgical infection has a shorter incubation period of 7 to 33 days, with an average of 19 days. When clinical symptoms reappear, only 50% to 70% of patients are positive for anti-HCV, and about 90% of patients develop anti-HCV positivity within 3 months. The daily treatment for hepatitis C patients primarily involves medication. Patients can take some oral medications, complement them with vitamins, pay attention to self-care, maintain a proper diet, and avoid cold foods.