What Do You Know About Hepatitis C?

It is the 21st anniversary of the identification of the hepatitis C virus this year and with 200,000 people conservatively estimated to have the disease in the UK, half of whom do not even know they have it, we’re very keen to highlight the importance of coming forward for testing if you’ve ever been put at risk.

There are little or no symptoms associated with hepatitis C, however the virus can lead to severe liver damage or even primary liver cancer.

Therefore, the department of health are urging people to get tested, and get treated.

The Department of Health campaign aims to raise awareness of hepatitis C and to encourage people who may be at risk to get tested

Hepatitis C is mainly spread through the blood of an infected person and the most common route for infection is sharing equipment for injecting drugs, even if this was only done once or twice and a long time ago

Most people who have hepatitis C infection experience no symptoms for many years, which means it is unlikely that people will seek a test, therefore identification of infection risks is crucial

If left untreated, hepatitis C may lead to severe liver damage - cirrhosis, primary liver cancer or liver failure

Treatment is available on the NHS. Drug therapy clears the virus in over 50% of those treated; with some strains it can clear the virus in 80% of those treated

Visit www.nhs.uk/hepc or call the hep C helpline 0800 0 121 737