Health Notes
Irvine Family Practice Medical Group
serving the community since 1984
Hepatitis C: do You have it?
The U.S. government through blood banks, hospitals, and doctors - is trying to identify and notify
thousands of people who may have hepatitis C infection and don't know it. Currently, there is a
highly accurate system in place to screen for hepatitis C in donated blood. But before 1992,
thousands of Americans received blood transfusions that could have been infected with hepatitis
C, a viral infection that attacks the liver. Because the disease is slow-progressing and sometimes
doesn't manifest any symptoms for as many as 20 years, many people don't even know they are
infected with hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne infection in the United States and the leading cause
of liver transplants. Approximately 170 million people worldwide (4 million of them in the United
States) are affected by the disease. Hepatitis C infection has become a high public health priority as
the number of people who die from the disease and those requiring liver transplants are expected to
dramatically increase in the coming decade.
Early detection is important to prevent further spread of hepatitis C and to limit the liver damage
caused by the virus.
What to do:
If you meet any of the risk criteria (see "Who Should Be Tested for Hepatitis C?") or think you
have hepatitis C, consult your family doctor. Your family doctor can perform blood and other tests
to determine if you have hepatitis C and, if you have any liver damage, provide counseling on how
to protect your liver from further harm, and determine your need for treatment.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). One of 5 different viruses that
cause viral hepatitis (termed A, B, C, D, and E), hepatitis C causes the liver to become inflamed.
The infection is spread through contact with the blood of an infected person or through sexual
contact. An estimated 85% of people infected with HCV each year develop chronic infection;
however, many people who have the infection do not show any symptoms. In others, it may lead to
cirrhosis (damage to liver cells), liver failure and possibly liver cancer. Your body needs the liver
to function properly to keep you healthy. The liver helps to fight infections and stops bleeding. It
removes drugs and other poisons from your blood and also stores energy.
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Who should be tested for Hepatitis C?
1. People who had blood transfusions or solid organ transplants before July 1992, who were treated
for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987, or have ever been on long-term
kidney dialysis.
2. Patients who have frequent exposure to blood products, such as those with chronic renal failure,
hemophilia or cancers requiring chemotherapy; however, recent exposure is not a risk. Please
consult your family doctor if you feel you fall into this category.
Health care workers with a known exposure to HCV-positive blood.
Injection drug users and former injection drug users.
Children born to HCV-positive women.
How to protect yourself:
Don't share needles, toothbrushes, razors, or other items that may have blood on them.
Wear gloves when touching anyone's blood.
If you're sexually active, practice safe sex and use condoms.
If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure that the tools are sterile.
If you have hepatitis C, don't donate blood or plasma.
If you have hepatitis C, don't drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
For more information:
American Liver Foundation
888/4-HEP-ABC or
http://www.liverfoundation.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hepatitis Branch
888/4-HEP-CDC or
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Digestive Diseases
Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3570 or http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
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