How Do You Know You DON’T Have Hepatitis C?

There are 40 million people around the world living with hepatitis B and C, according to the World Hepatitis Alliance. Furthermore, 1.4 million people die from viral hepatitis every year and 4,000 of those people are will die tomorrow. What’s even more startling is the fact that most people with hepatitis aren’t even aware they have it. “One of the reasons hepatitis can be tricky is that it is possible to live with viral hepatitis for years without having symptoms or feeling sick,” says Dr. Jennifer Caudle, Family Physician and Asst. Professor Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. “Many who have hepatitis don’t actually know it!”

These deaths can be prevented, but only if people take the time to be tested. Dr. Caudle stresses that “Diagnosing and treating hepatitis is very important because viral hepatitis is one of the 10 infectious disease killers in the world.”

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Since those living with hepatitis may not show any significant symptoms or signs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s testing guidelines for hepatitis C screening are the recommended way to assess risk and learn your status for sure. The CDC specifically recommends the following people be tested:

• Adults born during 1945 through 1965 should be tested once (without prior ascertainment of HCV risk factors)
• HCV-testing is recommended for those who:
  • Currently injecting drugs
  • Ever injected drugs, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago
  • Have certain medical conditions, including persons :
    • who received clotting factor concentrates produced before 1987
    • who were ever on long-term hemodialysis
    • with persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT)
    • who have HIV infection
  • Were prior recipients of transfusions or organ transplants, including persons who:
    • were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection
    • received a transfusion of blood, blood components or an organ transplant before July 1992
• HCV- testing based on a recognized exposure is recommended for:
  • Healthcare, emergency medical, and public safety workers after needle sticks, sharps, or mucosal exposures to HCV-positive blood
  • Children born to HCV-positive women

For the full screening guidelines, including a list of those persons whom routine HCV testing is not recommended, click here.

To help save lives and raise awareness about viral hepatitis, the World Hepatitis Alliance is encouraging the public to tweet using the hashtag #4000voices on World Hepatitis Day which is celebrated each year on July 28.

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