Early detection is the key to better health!

Hepatitis C is a virus usually spread when blood from a person infected with the hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 30 people may have Hep C but don’t even know it. Since testing the blood supply in the United States for infectious agents didn’t begin until until 1992, there is a large segment of the population that should get tested to make sure that they are not infected with Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is curable – and the good news is the cure rate is quickly approaching 100%. Untreated Hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). As the disease progresses, symptoms such as skin problems, blood disorders, and fever may appear. In the long term, hepatitis C can lead to severe liver damage, liver cancer, and liver failure. Early treatment will help delay or prevent serious damage.

Who should get tested?

• Born between 1945 and 1965 (Baby Boomers)
• Former or current person sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to prepare or inject drugs
• Having sexual contact with a person infected with the hepatitis C virus
• Needlestick injuries in health care settings
• Being born to a mother who has hepatitis C
• Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
• Getting a tattoo or body piercing in an unregulated setting
• You were treated for a blood clotting problem before 1987
• You received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July, 1992
• You are on long-term hemodialysis treatment
• You were ever incarcerated
• You are a sexually active persons about to start Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV exposure
• You have had unexplained chronic liver disease and/or chronic hepatitis including elevated liver enzymes

Make an appointment by calling The Project at (309) 762-5433.