Viral Hepatitis C

An estimated 4 million Americans have been infected with Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C Virus. The Surgeon General released a letter in July 2000 stating that our country is facing a silent epidem-ic in the form of hepatitis C.

Although some people infected with HCV experi-ence flu-like symptoms, most have no symptoms until the later stages of the disease. This can cause a dangerous delay in detection/diagnosis. Hepatitis C spreads by contact with an infected person's blood. You should get tested for hepatitis C if you:

• have ever used illegal drugs, even if you only experimented a few times many years ago.
• have a tattoo.
• received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992.
• received a blood product for clotting problems produced before 1987.
• have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis.
• have ever been packed with a needle that has infected blood on it.
• were born to a mother with hepatitis C.

In rare cases, you can get hepatitis C by having sex with an infected person, especially if your partner or you have other sexually transmitted diseases.

It is important to note that you can NOT get hepatitis C from shaking hands, kissing, hug-ging or sitting next to an infected person.

If you think that you might have been exposed to hepatitis C, call your doctor. Your doctor will do a simple blood test.

The good news is that for many people hepatitis C is treatable. It is important to get help early, because if hepatitis C is left untreated, it can-in time-cause your liver to stop working.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services

All information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. For specific information or advice relating to your medical needs, please consult your primary care physician.