Consider Being Screened for Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is on the rise at a rate of 1 in 33 people being
exposed to the virus. Most people are unaware they are
infected until diagnosed with liver failure or liver cancer.
Early symptoms such as fatigue are often difficult to
recognize, making early diagnosis through proactive
screening essential.

The virus spreads through infected blood and can take
years to show symptoms. While some cases of the virus
clear on their own, 80% of those infected develop chronic
hepatitis C. Nearly 20% of chronic cases will develop
cirrhosis, a condition that slowly shuts down the liver
from the inside out through fibrosis.

“When you get a scar, the skin heals itself by laying down
collagen,” said infectious disease expert Sugat Patel, MD,
from Samaritan Health Services. “The virus damages the
liver in a similar way. Your body will try to heal the liver,
but it inadvertently causes fibrosis, a type of scarring that
permanently damages your liver.”

Baby boomers currently make up the majority of cases due to
unscreened blood transfusions and other exposures before
the virus was identified in 1989. However, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases are rising
among young people, with shared needles the main cause
of new infections. Infected mothers can also pass the virus
to their babies.

“The good news is the treatment options for hepatitis C have
greatly increased over the past decade,” said Dr. Patel.
“The only treatment option used to be two to four months
of chemo. Now most cases are treated by taking direct‑acting
antivirals — that target stages of the virus reproductive
cycle — for two to three months with little to no side effects
and an astonishing 95% success rate.”

People don’t often identify themselves as being at risk, but
it’s safer to be screened and know you aren’t a transmitter.

“Get tested,” urged Dr. Patel.

Everyone should get tested at least once, especially those
born between 1945 and 1965. Those engaging in high‑risk
behavior such as drug use or having multiple sexual partners
should get tested every six months. Talk to your primary care
provider about getting a hepatitis C antibody blood test.