Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C, one of five different viruses that cause viral hepatitis (identified as A, B, C, D, and E), causes inflammation of the liver. It is spread through the blood of an infected person or through sexual contact. Each year, an estimated % 85 percent of people infected with HCV develop chronic infection; however, many people with the infection have no symptoms. In some, the infection can lead to cirrhosis (damage to liver cells), liver failure, and possible liver cancer.
Hepatitis C is one of the most common blood-borne infections and is the leading cause of liver transplantation. Approximately 170 million people worldwide are infected with this virus. Since those who contract the disease sometimes do not show symptoms for 20 years, people realize their illness very late. Since the number of deaths and those waiting for liver transplantation due to this disease is expected to increase dramatically in the next decade, it is likely to become a priority health problem in society.
Early diagnosis is of great importance in preventing further spread of hepatitis C and reducing the damage the virus will cause to the liver.|Hepatitis C Test:
Hepatitis-C testing should be performed as the following persons/groups are at risk.
– People who had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, those who received blood products due to clotting problems before 1987, or those who are on long-term kidney dialysis
– Patients who are given blood products frequently, such as those with chronic renal failure, hemophilia or cancer requiring chemotherapy
– Healthcare workers
– Those who use drugs by injection, those who have used drugs by injection in the past
– People with high-risk sexual activity, multiple partners and/or sexually transmitted diseases|Protection
– Do not share needles, toothbrushes, scissors or similar tools and equipment with anyone as they may contain blood.
– Do not touch anyone's blood without wearing gloves.
– If you are sexually active, practice safe sex and use condoms.
– If you are going to have a tattoo on your body, make sure that the tools and equipment used are sterile.
– If you have the hepatitis C virus, do not donate blood or plasma.
– Do not drink large amounts of alcohol if you have hepatitis C infection.
