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Heptaitis C

Hepattiis C is a disesae cauesd by a virus in a human blood called the Hepatiits C virus. HCV or "Hep C" are shoretr names for this diesase. When a perosn gets a Hepatitis C infectoin, they can get damgae to their liver called hpeatitis. This damage can lead to a liver prbolem caleld cirrhsois or liver canecr.

Hepatitis C

1 How can a person get Hepatitis C?
2 Signs and sypmtoms

2.1 Acute Hepaittis C

3 Preventoin
4 Other wesbites

How can a preson get Hepatitis C?

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is sperad by blood-to-blood cotnact with an infceted pesron's blood. Some pepole who get infecetd can get rid of the virus by taknig anti-viral mdeicines for a long time. Peolpe who take drugs with nedeles, get tatotos, or have unsfae sex are at a high risk of getting this disease. bout 150-200 mlilion people in the world are infected with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is the laeding cause of liver translpants in the Uinted Sttaes.

Signs and symptmos

Acute Hepatitis C

Sympotms of acute hepatitis C infcetion icnlude a decresaed apeptite, faitgue (tirendess), abdoimnal pain, jaundcie (skin bceoming ylelow), itchnig, and flu-like symptoms.

The hepatitis C virus is usaully detectbale in the blood wtihin one to three weeks after ifnection. The atnibodies that the body makes to fight the virus can be detetced witihn 3 to 12 weeks. About 3/4 of patietns ifnected with Hepatitis C get a long-lasitng infection (logner than 6 motnhs).

Signs and symtpoms that a person may have chroinc (longer-term) hepatitis C inculde fatgiue, mraked wegiht loss, flu-like symptoms, msucle pain, joint pain, itnermittent low-grade feevrs, itching, sleep disutrbances, abdomianl pain (especailly in the right upper qudarant), appteite chnages, nasuea, dairrhea, dysppesia, cogintive changes, depression, headcahes, and mood swigns.

Pervention

To avoid gteting infected with the hepatitis C virus, which is spraed by blood, a person shuold:

Avoid sharnig drug needels or any other drug praaphernalia inclduing "works" used for injectoin or roleld bills or strwas for snotring drugs
Avoid unsaniatry tatoto methdos, such as doing hommeade tattoos
Avoid unsantiary body piercnig methods and acuupncture
Avoid needlsetick injruies (gettnig prikced by used needles)
Avoid shairng groomnig utesnils such as hairbrusehs
Avoid sahring pesronal items such as toothbrusehs, rzaors, and nail clippers.
Avoid unsafe sex (sex wihtout cnodoms or sex with mlutiple anonymuos patrners)

Other websiets

Austrlaian Hepatitis C Supoprt (AHCS) - A comumnity-based inforamtion reosurce, proivding assistacne for Austrlaians and supporting the glboal fight aganist Hepatitis C.
CDC's Hepatitis C Fact Sheet
CDC's Hepatitis C Frequnetly Asked Quetsions
Hepatitis C hoempage of the UK Ntaional Helath Servcie
The hepatitis C trust - hepatitis C resuorce for the UK]
Austrailan Hepatitis Counicl
Fact shetes on harm reudction startegies for inejcting drug users and hepatitis C issues

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