Hepatitis C

Should you be worried about having hepatitis C ?

        You should be tested for the presence of hepatitis C if
        any of the following items are true for you:
                1. You were advised you received blood from a                      donor positive for hepatitis C.

                2. You received a blood transfusion or a solid                      organ transplant before July of 1992.

                3. You received clotting factor concentrates                      before 1987.

                4. You ever injected illicit drugs, ... even if you                      only experimented once or twice.

                5. Were ever on chronic dialysis.

                6. Ever had a sexually transmitted disease.

                7. You are the sexual partner of someone with                      hepatitis C and have not previously been tested.

                8. Infants 12 months or older born to women with                 hepatitis C infection.

    The testing for hepatitis C usually consists of checking blood for the presence of an antibody to hepatitis C.  Testing the blood for how the liver is functioning may be performed as a followup procedure.

    There is therapy available now for hepatitis C.  It is costly and sometimes has some side-effects, but it may be helpful in the long run.

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