What is Hepatitis C and how does it spread?
Hepatitis means “inflammation ofthe liver”. If the liver is inflamed or damaged, this can affect the liver’s ability to filter your blood. Hepatitis C passes from one person to another through contact with blood containing the virus. Most people who are exposed to the Hepatitis C virus will go on to have chronic illness and require treatment. Hepatitis C can cause liver disease, liver cancer, and possible even death
Symptoms of Hep C
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Symptoms can include:
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Upset stomach
- Throwing up
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stool
- Joint pain
- Tiredness/Exhaustion
People living with Hepatitis C often have no symptoms. It may take years for symptoms to develop. Eventually, if you do experience symptoms, it is often an indication that you may have advanced disease.
Symptoms
of Hep C
Many people with hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Symptoms can include:
- Yellow skin or eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Upset stomach
- Throwing up
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stool
- Joint pain
- Tiredness/Exhaustion
People living with Hepatitis C often have no symptoms. It may take years for symptoms to develop. Eventually, if you do experience symptoms, it is often an indication that you may have advanced disease.
All adults, pregnant women, and people with risk factors should get tested for hepatitis C.
How Can I Prevent Getting Hepatitis C?
There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C, but there are ways that you can lower your risk:
- Avoid sharing/reusing needles, syringes, or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
- Avoid sharing needles for tattoos or piercings.
- Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with blood containing the virus; such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
Is there a cure for Hep C?
Yes! Getting tested for hepatitis C is important to find out if you are infectedand get lifesaving treatment. Treatmentsare available that can cure most peoplewith hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.
How Can I Prevent Getting
Hepatitis C?
There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C, but there are ways that you can lower your risk:
- Avoid sharing/reusing needles, syringes, or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
- Avoid sharing needles for tattoos or piercings.
- Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with blood containing the virus; such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
Is there a cure for
Hep C?
Yes! Getting tested for hepatitis C is important to find out if you are infectedand get lifesaving treatment. Treatmentsare available that can cure most peoplewith hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks.
Who should be getting tested for Hep C?
- People 18 and older
- Pregnant people (be tested during each pregnancy)
- Persons who inject drugs (currently or even just one time in the past)
- Have ever injected drugs, even if it was one time years ago.
- People living with HIV
- Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
- A hemodialysis patient
- Received donated blood or organs beforeJuly 1992
- Received clotting factor concentratesbefore 1987
- Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C
- Were born to a mother with hepatitis C
