Hepatitis C
This is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, called HCV. Most often it spreads when you come into contact with blood from an infected person.
Hepatitis C can cause serious problems like liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and liver cancer. There's no vaccine for hepatitis C. That's why screenings from your doctor are important. That way, you'll know if you're at greater risk of an infection.
Your chances of hepatitis C can go up if:
You're a baby boomer. About 75% of the people infected with hepatitis C in the U.S. were born between 1945 and 1965. If you're in this group, your chances of getting hepatitis C is at least five times greater than people of any other age. There are many theories as to why this is true, but it's most likely because medical procedures like blood transfusions weren't as safe back then. The hepatitis C screening weren't as common then.
Your mother was infected. If your mother had had hepatitis C infection, there's a chance you have one too. According to the CDC, about 6 % of babies born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C. A pregnant woman who has HCV antibodies but no active virus likely won't spread the virus to her baby. But if she has a high viral overload, there's a greater chance she'll pass on the virus to her child.
You've had exposure to blood or body fluids. Health care workers and anyone who deals with blood and needles on a regular basis have a higher chance of getting hepatitis C due to the potential for accidents like needle-stick injuries.
You've gotten transfusions or transplants. You're at a greater risk of hepatitis C if you received an organ transplant or blood transfusion before July 1992. Your chances are also higher if you had clotting factor concentrates made for you before 1997. These days blood supply is highly screened.
You shared certain personal items. Sharing things like razors, nail clippers, and toothbrushes raises the odds that you'll get hepatitis C, since those items might come into contact with infected blood.
You had a tattoo or piercing in an unclean environment. If the needle used wasn't sterile or the room wasn't clean, infected blood can spread from one person to another.
You have HIV. Hepatitis C and HIV in many of the same ways- including blood products, unsafe drug use, and sex- many people have both viruses.
You had long-term hemodialysis. When you've had your blood filtered by a machine for a long time because your kidneys weren't working, it's possible that blood from an infected person could get on the surfaces or machine equipment and then spread to other people .
You're Black. Black Americans have a higher rate of infection of hepatitis C and a higher rate of death from this disease. Those rates are dropping with better diagnosis.
Credit; WebMD.
This is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, called HCV. Most often it spreads when you come into contact with blood from an infected person.
Hepatitis C can cause serious problems like liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and liver cancer. There's no vaccine for hepatitis C. That's why screenings from your doctor are important. That way, you'll know if you're at greater risk of an infection.
Your chances of hepatitis C can go up if:
You're a baby boomer. About 75% of the people infected with hepatitis C in the U.S. were born between 1945 and 1965. If you're in this group, your chances of getting hepatitis C is at least five times greater than people of any other age. There are many theories as to why this is true, but it's most likely because medical procedures like blood transfusions weren't as safe back then. The hepatitis C screening weren't as common then.
Your mother was infected. If your mother had had hepatitis C infection, there's a chance you have one too. According to the CDC, about 6 % of babies born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C. A pregnant woman who has HCV antibodies but no active virus likely won't spread the virus to her baby. But if she has a high viral overload, there's a greater chance she'll pass on the virus to her child.
You've had exposure to blood or body fluids. Health care workers and anyone who deals with blood and needles on a regular basis have a higher chance of getting hepatitis C due to the potential for accidents like needle-stick injuries.
You've gotten transfusions or transplants. You're at a greater risk of hepatitis C if you received an organ transplant or blood transfusion before July 1992. Your chances are also higher if you had clotting factor concentrates made for you before 1997. These days blood supply is highly screened.
You shared certain personal items. Sharing things like razors, nail clippers, and toothbrushes raises the odds that you'll get hepatitis C, since those items might come into contact with infected blood.
You had a tattoo or piercing in an unclean environment. If the needle used wasn't sterile or the room wasn't clean, infected blood can spread from one person to another.
You have HIV. Hepatitis C and HIV in many of the same ways- including blood products, unsafe drug use, and sex- many people have both viruses.
You had long-term hemodialysis. When you've had your blood filtered by a machine for a long time because your kidneys weren't working, it's possible that blood from an infected person could get on the surfaces or machine equipment and then spread to other people .
You're Black. Black Americans have a higher rate of infection of hepatitis C and a higher rate of death from this disease. Those rates are dropping with better diagnosis.
Credit; WebMD.