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Living with Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a virus that damages a person's liver making it harder to digest food, fight infections and remove toxins from the body.

About Hep C

Hepatitis C, also called HCV is a virus that attacks the liver of a person who has been infected. Damage to the liver can include cirrhosis (scaring), cancer and failure. The damage caused by HCV can make it harder for the liver to help fight off infections, digest food, and break down toxins in the body. HCV infection doesn’t cause any symptoms until it begins to damage the liver. When the liver is damaged, symptoms may include fatigue, poor appetite, jaundice, weight loss, and swelling in the legs and abdomen.

HOW IS HEP C PASSED?

 

Anyone who is exposed can get Hep C, regardless of their age, culture, gender or sexual orientation.

Most people infected with Hep C have no symptoms at first, and an infected person with no symptoms can still pass Hep C to someone else.

Hep C is passed through the blood, but it is a strong virus and can live outside the body for days. So, even dried blood infected with the HCV can pass the virus to someone else.

 
 

Hep C is most often passed by:

Drug equipment that was used by someone else, including needles, syringes, filters, cookers, acidifiers, alcohol swabs, tourniquets, water, pipes, or straws.

Tattoo & piercing equipment that was used and not disinfected properly.

Sharing items that might have blood on them such as razors, nail clippers or toothbrushes.

Through a blood transfusion that was not screened for Hep.C. All blood products in Canada have been screened for Hep C since 1990.

Anal sex without a condom, especially when blood is present.

There are vaccines to protect against Hep A & Hep B.
There is no vaccine for Hep C.

 
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GET TESTED FOR HEP C

 

Are you Positive you’re Negative?

The only way to know for sure, is to get tested.

 
 

 Treatment for Hep C

It’s possible to clear Hep C from the body without treatment, but most people need treatment to cure Hep C. If you have Hep C, it is important that you see a health care provider. Treatments for Hep C are more effective than they used to be and have fewer side effects. 

Originally published by CATIE, Canada’s source for HIV and Hep C information.

Originally published by CATIE, Canada’s source for HIV and Hep C information.

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