# hepatitis question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hepatitis-question/203900>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hepatitis-question/203900 "2003-09-26T03:53:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![captainQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@captainQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/captainQwark)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hepatitis-question/203900/1 "2003-09-26T03:53:09Z")

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I recently learned that some forms of chronic hepatitis can be contracted through saliva. Does this mean that a person could get hepatitis through being spit in the eye or drinking after someone?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hepatitis-question/203900/2 "2003-09-26T03:56:59Z")

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In theory, [yes](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7400629&dopt=Abstract). But it’s not very likely.

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hepatitis-question/203900/3 "2003-09-26T04:33:37Z")

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Your abstract refers to Hep B. But don’t forget Hepatitis C.

Hep C _is_ found in saliva. Dentists have a relatively high incidence of Hep C infection. These facts suggest that Hep C can be acquired through saliva.