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Sexual Health Centre
Infections and Safer Sex |
Hepatitis
C
What is it?
Hepatitis C is transmitted through
body fluids, particularly blood. Sharing needles for drug use is the most
common way to get this infection, but it may also be transmitted sexually.
In the last ten years, a test has been developed and used to check donated
blood for Hepatitis C. Prior to that time, people got this infection
through blood transfusions. Unsafe tattooing can also put people at risk.
Because Hepatitis C is primarily passed through exchanges of blood, it
is
rarely, transmitted through sexual contact, however it is theoretically
possible.
What are the
symptoms?
Many people who get Hepatitis
C have no symptoms or at most experience a mild, short illness with:
- jaundice
- fatigue
- nausea
- fever
- right-side abdominal pain
Unfortunately while some people
with Hepatitis C recover completely, up to 85 percent continue to carry
Hepatitis
C infection and may go on to develop chronic
hepatitis (65-70 percent after ten years). About twenty percent develop
cirrhosis (scarring and
permanent damage to the liver) after twenty years.
How is it
diagnosed?
Hepatitis C is diagnosed with
a blood test taken 12 weeks or more after infection.
How is it
treated?
If diagnosed in the first few
months after infection, antiviral drug treatment decreases the chance of
developing chronic Hepatitis C disease. If chronic hepatitis develops, antiviral
treatment with a combination of oral ribavirin and interferon injections
for a year improve chronic Hepatitis C disease in about 40 percent of those
treated. However, in extreme cases, liver transplant may be the only option.
How can I
protect myself from Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted
by blood contact. Sixty to eighty percent of the time people get Hepatitis
C by sharing needles even once used to inject drugs. Follow these tips
for safer needle use to help prevent infection.
Hepatitis C is rarely transmitted
sexually unless there are open sores in the genital area - even long
term partners do not seem to get Hepatitis C. To protect yourself
and your partner, have genital infections treated promptly and avoid
unprotected sex during your period. Be aware that sharing personal
items that might
carry blood, such as razors or toothbrushes, may also carry Hepatitis
C.
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