Hepatitis C
Background Information
The following information may be attributed to the Ohio Department of Health.
Hepatitis C is a virus that has been found anywhere in the world where it has been sought. However, prevalence of the disease was much higher before screening began to identify antibodies to the virus in the use of blood donations.
WHO gets hepatitis C?
Someone exposed to contaminated blood or plasma, usually as a result of the use of needles and syringes. Studies indicate that hepatitis C is not usually transmitted through household or sexual contact, or from mother to child during birth. It would take contact with the blood of an infected household member to spread hepatitis C.
WHAT causes hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus.
WHEN do most cases of hepatitis C occur?
Hepatitis C infection is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the U.S. Approximately 3.9 million people in the U.S. are infected with the virus and about 7 percent of these may have acquired the virus through a blood transfusion. While hepatitis C does not have a time when it occurs, it takes very specific types of contact (usually via needles or syringes) for someone to become infected with hepatitis C.
HOW does hepatitis C make people ill?
Hepatitis C often has no symptoms in those who are infected. If symptoms do occur, they usually consist of jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, possible nausea, and vomiting. Chronic liver disease progresses at a slow rate without symptoms during the first two or more decades after infection. However, chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and studies show 40 to 60 percent of this disease is related to hepatitis C, resulting in between 8,000 and 10,000 deaths each year. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C.
WHAT blood tests are available to check for hepatitis C?
There are several blood tests available to determine if someone has been infected with hepatitis C. Your doctor may order one or a combination of tests. The tests are: anti-HCV (antibody to hepatitis C), and EIA (enzyme immunoassay.)
CAN tests be false positives or negatives?
Tests can result in both false negative and positive readings. A false positive means the test looks positive but is really negative, and a false negative means someone has really been infected. False positive antibody tests for hepatitis C occur more often in people such as blood donors who are at low risk for hepatitis C. This is why it's important to confirm a false positive antibody test with a supplemental test. Antibodies for hepatitis C can be found in 70 percent of people when symptoms begin, and in about nine out of 10 people within three months after symptoms start.
WHO should get tested for hepatitis C?
The list includes:
- Anyone who has ever injected illegal drugs, including those who only used once or a couple times many years ago.
- Someone treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987, when more advanced methods for manufacturing products were developed.
- Anyone who received blood and was notified that the blood donor tested positive for hepatitis C.
- People who had a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July of 1992, when better testing became available.
- Anyone on long-term hemodialysis treatment who has symptoms of liver disease, such as an abnormal liver enzyme test.
- Health care workers after exposure because of needle sticks or splashes to the eye involving blood that is positive for hepatitis C.
- Children born to women who have tested positive for hepatitis C.
WHAT are the risks of getting hepatitis C from a blood transfusion now?
With today's advanced testing, the risk of getting hepatitis C from a blood transfusion is about one out of 100,000 units of blood.
SHOULD pregnant women be tested?
CAN hepatitis C be passed to a newborn?
WHAT about breast-feeding?
Pregnant women have no greater risk of being infected than anyone else who doesn't have the risk factors for hepatitis C (see earlier risks). The chances of hepatitis C being passed from a mother to her newborn is about five out of 100 for children born to infected mothers. Breast-feeding is not considered a risk for spreading hepatitis C. However, if infected mothers have cracked or bleeding nipples, they should consider abstaining from breast-feeding.
HOW can the spread of hepatitis C be prevented?
If you are infected with hepatitis C, do NOT donate blood, body organs, tissue or semen; do not share personal items that might have blood on them such as toothbrushes, dental appliances, nail grooming equipment or razors. If you have a cut or skin sore, cover it. Remember: hepatitis C is NOT SPREAD by sneezing, hugging, coughing, food or water, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or by casual contact. People with hepatitis C should not be excluded from work, school, play groups, child-care or similar types of settings.
WHAT about sexual activity and hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C can be spread by sexual contacted but this does NOT occur very often. If you are sexually active, but not in a monogamous relationship with one person, you and your partners can get other potentially life-threatening diseases other than hepatitis C (i.e. AIDS, hepatitis B and others) and should consistently and correctly use a latex condom. If you are in a monogamous relationship with one, long-term partner: there is VERY LITTLE CHANCE of spreading hepatitis C to that partner. If you want to reduce that risk further, use a condom.
WHAT can people with hepatitis C do to protect their liver?
See your doctor regularly. Do NOT use alcohol, and do NOT use any new medicines or over-the-counter medicines, including herbals, without your physician's knowledge. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A, if liver damage is present. Of every 100 people who have hepatitis C: 85 may develop long-term infection; 70 may develop chronic liver disease; 15 may develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years, and five may die from long-term infection (usually because of liver cancer or cirrhosis.)
HOW is hepatitis C treated?
Anti-viral drugs, such as interferon, used alone or in combination with ribavirin, are approved for treating people who have chronic hepatitis C. Interferon works in 15 to 20 percent of people treated, while interferon combined with ribavirin works in about 30 percent of people.
MEDIA CONTACT: (614) 644-8562.
Last Updated: 09/08/2000 |
