Heptatitis C
How it’s spread
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be spread in the following ways:
* by sharing contaminated needles or other drug-injecting equipment. If you have ever shared drug-injecting equipment, you may want to be tested for hepatitis C
* by using non-sterilised equipment for tattooing, acupuncture or body piercing
* by unprotected sex which draws blood with someone who is infected. Also, if you have sex with an infected woman who is on her period, or if you have sex with someone who is infected and who has sores on their genitals that may bleed. Sexual transmission is not a common way of becoming infected with hepatitis C
* on rare occasions, from an infected mother to her baby, mainly during delivery. The risk may be greater if the mother is also infected with HIV
* through a blood transfusion in a country where blood is not tested for the hepatitis C virus. All blood for transfusion in the UK is tested.
* by sharing notes used to snort cocaine.
Signs and symptoms
People may have no symptoms at all, but they can still pass on the virus to others. Symptoms, though not common, may include:
* a short, mild, flu-like illness
* nausea and vomiting
* diarrhoea
* loss of appetite
* weight loss
* jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces)
* itchy skin.
Some people may need to be admitted to hospital.
Current evidence suggests that only about 20% of individuals who have been infected with the hepatitis C virus appear to clear the virus from the blood, whilst about 80% will remain infected and can pass on the virus to others. If a person continues to be infected over a number of years with the hepatitis C virus, they could develop the following complications:
* chronic hepatitis
* liver cirrhosis
* liver cancer.
Where to go for help
* Your local NHS sexual health (GUM) clinic
You can find details of your nearest NHS sexual health clinic in the phone book under genito-urinary medicine (GUM), sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or venereal diseases (VD). Or phone your local hospital and ask for the ’special’ or GUM clinic. Our help and advice page links to websites which can tell you where to find your nearest clinic.
You will get free, confidential advice and treatment. You can go to any NHS clinic anywhere in the country - you don’t have to go to a local one - and you don’t have to be referred by your GP. (Non-NHS sexual health clinics do not always offer the full range of services which are available at NHS sexual health clinics.)
* A hospital Accident and Emergency department.
* Your own GP
* If you are in the UK, go to www.playingsafely.co.uk to find details of STD clinics.