What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C, or ‘Hep C,’ is a virus that can
damage your liver. Sometimes it can cause
person, the chances of spreading it through sex
are low.

scar tissue to build up, making it hard for your liver
to work properly. It can take years, or even decades,
for the virus to do any damage. For many people, it
may never do any damage.
What is co-infection?
Hepatitis C / HIV co-infection means having both
Hep C and HIV viruses. The Adult Immunology
Clinic at Highland Hospital has a special program
called Co-infection Clinic for people with both
viruses.
How do you get Hepatitis C?
Hep C is spread by blood, so you can get Hep C
if you come into contact with the blood of someone
who has Hep C. The most common ways that this
happens are:

Sharing certain household items
such as toothbrushes and razors
that might have blood on them
(even amounts you can’t see).

If you got a blood
transfusion before
1992, you might have gotten Hep C that way.
The blood supply has been tested since 1992, so
it’s almost impossible to get Hep C from a blood
transfusion anymore.

How don’t you get Hepatitis C?
You can’t get Hep C through casual contact, such as:

hugging

kissing

holding hands
You can’t get it from:

sharing plates,
cups, or silverware

toilet seats

doorknobs


To get a liver biopsy, you have to spend a few hours
in the hospital. The doctors may make a video of
your belly called an ultrasound in order to see
exactly where your liver is. They will then numb
your skin and use a long, skinny needle to remove a
tiny piece of your liver. They will look at that under a
microscope.
Is there treatment for Hepatitis C?
Yes! The easiest way to ‘treat’ Hep C is to take some
simple steps yourself:

You can get Hep C from sex. The more people
you have unprotected sex with, the greater your
chance of getting it and other
STD’s through sex. But, if
you’re in a long-term
relationship with only one
What are the symptoms of Hep C?
Most people with Hep C don’t have any symptoms!
That’s why so many people have it without knowing.
Things that people sometimes feel include:

feeling very tired

belly pain

swelling

itching
Most people with Hep C don’t get jaundice, or
yellow skin and eyes.

you also have HIV, the chances of getting sick from
Hep C may be higher. It might not take as long for
Hep C to start damaging your liver. Some HIV
medicines can hurt the liver, so if you have Hep C,
your doctor will help you to be careful about which
pills you take.
Don’t drink alcohol.
If you can’t stop
completely, cut down as much as
you can. Alcohol is like poison to
a liver that is already working
overtime to fight hep C.
If you haven’t already been vaccinated or
get vaccinated for Hep A
and Hep B.There is no vaccine against Hep C.
If you shoot drugs, use a new, sterile
needle for every injection and
don’t share any of your works.
exposed

Don’t share needles, cottons, cookers, or rinse
water. Doctors at the clinic can give you a
prescription for clean needles if you need them.
Why should I worry about my Hepatitis C?
Hep C can be more complicated and more
dangerous for people who also have HIV. If
Most important Hep C tests are blood tests, so
your doctor may do them along with whatever
blood tests you usually have done.
Your doctor may also talk to you about getting a
liver biopsy. This special test that tells you and
your doctor exactly how your liver is doing.
What happens if I get a liver biopsy?
Sharing needles or works, even
once. This is the way that most
people get Hep C. Sharing
anything – needles, cookers,
cottons, or rinse water – can put
you at risk. And bleach does not always kill Hep
C! You can also get Hep C from snorting drugs.


Some people have gotten Hep C from tattoos,
but it is hard to get it that way, especially if you
go to a professional tattoo parlor. It is more
risky to get a tattoo someplace where there isn’t
sterile tattoo equipment, like in prison or from a
friend.
A pregnant woman who has Hep C may
pass it to her fetus but this is rare.
Are there special tests that I need?

See your doctor regularly and keep
your HIV under good control.
Is there medicine for Hepatitis C?
There is medicine for Hep C. The two kinds of
medicines are currently:

Interferon, an injection once a week

Ribavirin, pills twice a day
In order for the medicines to work best, you have to
be on them for six months to one year. There can be
side effects, such as:

tiredness

achiness

headaches

lowering of blood counts
If you have any questions about Hep C, or
would like to find out more about
Coinfection Clinic, talk to your doctor.
What do you need to know
about…
Hepatitis C
Co-infection Clinic?
Your doctor can help you manage these. Another
important side effect can be:

depression
This is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that if you go
on the medication, the team here needs to see you
OFTEN.
Does the medicine work?
Even when you get through a year of the treatment,
there is about a 40%-80% chance that you will be
cured of Hep C depending upon the type of virus you
have. BUT, even if you aren’t cured, the medicine
can help your liver to repair itself.
This medicine is not for everyone. If you have
certain other medical problems, the medicine could
be dangerous for you. The Hep C team can help you
decide if the medicines are right for you.
How do I find out more about Coinfection Clinic?
If you are interested in learning more about your Hep
C, start by attending our information and advocacy
support group. There you will meet the Hep C team:
doctors, a nurse and a social worker, and people
with co-infection who have experienced the treatment
for Hep C. Everyone will work together to help you
decide what is best for your Hep C. You can decide
after that if you want to make an appointment to
attend the Coinfection Clinic for evaluation of your
personal Hep C status.
Adult Immunology Clinic
Highland Hospital
Fairmont Hospital
Tri-City Health Center
Hepatitis-C Co-infection Clinic
(510) 535-7433
Michael Harank RN
HepC Project Coordinator
Some questions…
and some answers.
HIV ACCESS
Highland Hospital
Fairmont Hospital
Tri-City Health Center