Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay M.D. & Written by Zia Sherrell MPH, May 13, 2021
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) can transmit to a fetus during pregnancy, but the risk of this happening is low. And if the transmission occurs, the baby’s immune system may clear the virus on its own.
If the baby’s immune system does not clear the virus, there are safe and effective treatments that doctors can use after the child reaches 3 years of age.
This article looks at exposure to HCV before or during birth, whether the virus can affect pregnancy in other ways, and how doctors diagnose and treat the infection in children.