Do You Have a Deadly Virus and Don't Know It?

Did you know that you can contract a virus that might not show any symptoms until it could be too late? This virus is transmitted from person to person primarily by blood transmission, either large amounts of blood or just a few drops. Antiviral medications can treat this virus, however the only way to know you have it is to get tested. This virus is called Hepatitis-C, or Hep C. Campbell County Health’s Wellness Clinic offers the hepatitis C antibody test.

Symptoms:

Hepatitis C is a bloodborne pathogen that can directly affect the liver. When someone is infected with the hepatitis C virus they may experience mild symptoms, however most people do not have any symptoms until the virus has caused major damage to their liver. Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, light-colored stools, dark urine, fever, stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite and yellowing of skin or eyes. Symptoms can appear within 2-12 weeks or even take 6 months if someone does develop them.

Contracting Hepatitis C:

In modern times people can contract the hepatitis C virus without even knowing it. For instance, it can be passed along by sharing drug-injection equipment, at birth, through healthcare exposures, sex, tattoos, piercings, sharing personal items, blood transfusions and organ transplants. The exposure risks have dropped over the years due to increased awareness. In 1992 when donated blood began to be tested for diseases, the United States saw a large decrease in the number of infected people. This makes it less likely that you will contract hepatitis C through blood transfusions and organ transplants. You are also less likely to contract hepatitis C through healthcare exposures, tattoos, and piercings. This is due to more precautions being taken when dealing with bloodborne pathogens. If hepatitis C is contracted today, it has a higher chance of being from the mother at birth, shared personal items, sex, or blood contamination.

Getting Tested:

CCH’s Health and Wellness Screening Services offers many different types of self-referred blood testing for the community. The hepatitis C test is among those. Testing is available without a provider’s order and the cost is only $50. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have or have had hepatitis C. Once you have the virus at some point in your life, the antibodies will continue to stay in your blood. One test could save your life.

If you are interested in receiving the hepatitis C antibody test with CCH’s Health and Wellness Screening Services, you can schedule an appointment anytime online at https://squareup.com/appointments/book/yzcnlpoxy5llqk/LG2WCQS53HFW8/start

Sources:

“Hepatitis c | CDC.” Www.cdc.gov, 5 May 2020, www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/HepatitisCOverview.htm.

“Hepatitis c Antibody Test: Results and What to Expect.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 7 Feb. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320849. Accessed 14 Sept. 2022.