What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV spreads through infected blood. You can get HCV by using a needle used by a person with HCV or from your mother if she had it during pregnancy. You can also get it if you received an organ transplant before 1992. Symptoms of hepatitis C include:- Yellow eyes or skin.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Stomach pain.
- Fever.
- Dark urine.
- Pale stool.
- Joint pain.
- Tiredness.
- Depression.
Hepatitis C Statistics
Here are a few important facts about hepatitis C. This infection affects millions of Americans.- Chronic hepatitis C is a major cause of liver cancer in the U.S.
- About 75% of people in the U.S. with chronic hepatitis C do not know they have it.
- Chronic hepatitis C affects 2.7 to 3.9 million people in the U.S.
- There were 4,800 new cases of acute hepatitis C in the U.S. in 2020.
- There were about 107,300 new cases of chronic hepatitis C in the U.S. in 2020.
- Acute hepatitis C is twice as common today as it was in 2013. Since then, the number of cases has increased by 124%.
What Is the Purpose Of Hepatitis C Awareness Month?
The goal of Hepatitis C Awareness Month is to encourage you to get a hepatitis C test. If you test positive, you can receive treatment for it. You can also take the proper steps to avoid spreading it to others. The CDC recommends getting tested for hepatitis C if you:- Are at least 18 years old.
- Are pregnant.
- Are using injection drugs.
- Have ever used injection drugs.
- Have HIV.
- Were born to a mother who had hepatitis C.
- Have been exposed to blood from someone who has hepatitis C.
- Have liver disease.
- Have had an abnormal liver test.
- Received donated blood before 1992.
- Received donated organs before 1992.
- Do not use injection drugs.
- Make sure a clean needle is used if you get a tattoo.
- Practice safer sex.
