Hepatitis C

[Immunizations] [Personal-Health] [Home]

How serious is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is serious for some people, but not for others. Most people who get Hepatitis C carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Most of these persons have some liver damage, but many do not feel sick from the disease. Some people with liver damage due to Hepatitis C may develop cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver and liver failure, which may take many years to develop. Others have no long-term effects.

What can I do now that my Hepatitis C test is positive?

Contact your doctor. Additional test may be needed to check your diagnosis and to see if you have liver damage.

What if I don't feel sick?

Many people with long-term Hepatitis C have no symptoms and feel well, but should still see their doctor. For some people, the most common symptom is extreme tiredness.

How can I take care of my liver?

	See your doctor regularly
	Do not drink alcohol
	Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, even over-the-counter and herbal medicines
	If you have liver damage from Hepatitis C, you should get vaccinated against Hepatitis A

Is there treatment for Hepatitis C?

Drugs are licensed for the treatment of persons with long-term Hepatitis C. About 2-3 out of every 10 patients who are treated get rid of the virus. You should check with your doctor to see if treatment may help you.

How could I have gotten hepatitis C?

HCV is spread primarily by exposure to human blood. You many have gotten Hepatitis C if:

	you ever injected street drugs, even if you experimented a few times many years ago
	you were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987
	you received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant (e.g., kidney, liver, heart) from an infected donor
	you were ever on long-term kidney dialysis
	you were ever a health care worker and had frequent contact with blood in the work place, especially accidental needle sticks
	your mother had Hepatitis C at the time she gave birth to you
	you ever had intercourse with a person infected with HCV
	you lived with someone who was infected with HCV and shared items such as razors or toothbrushes that might have had blood on them

How can I prevent spreading HCV to others?

	Do not donate your blood, body organs, other tissue, or sperm
	Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal care articles that might have your blood on them
	Cover your cuts and open sores
	If you have one long-term steady sex partner, you do not need to change your sexual practices. There is a very low chance of giving Hepatitis C to that partner through sexual activity. If you want to lower the small chance of spreading HCV to your sexual partner, you may decide to use barrier precautions such as latex condoms. Ask your doctor about having your sex partner tested.

*****THERE IS NO VACCINE AVAILABLE TO PREVENT HEPATITIS C.

What if I am pregnant?

About five out of every 100 infants born to HCV infected women become infected. This occurs at the time of birth and there is no treatment that can prevent this from happening. However, infants infected with HCV at the time of birth seem to do very well in the first few years of life. More studies are needed to find out if these infants will have problems from the infection as they grow older.

Hepatitis C is NOT spread by:

	breast feeding
	hugging
	food or water
	sneezing
	coughing
	casual contact
	sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses

If you use or inject street drugs:

	Stop and get into a drug treatment program
	If you cannot stop, do not reuse or share syringes, water, or drug works
	Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A

If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner:

	You and your partners can spread diseases by having sex (e.g., AIDS, Hepatitis B, Gonorrhea, or Chlamydia)
	Use latex condoms correctly and every time
	The surest way to prevent the spread of any disease by sex is not to have sex at all
	Get vaccinated against Hepatitis B

For more information contact your local health department or physician.

Shiawassee County Health Department

110 East Mack Street

Corunna, Michigan 48817

(989) 743-2355

1-800-859-4229

[Immunizations] [Personal-Health] [Home]