Hepatitis C is just one of many possible causes of infection of the liver.
Many people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they can include: fever, feeling tired, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, dark urine, grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow skin and eyes.
Over time, chronic Hepatitis C can cause serious health problems including liver disease, liver failure, and even liver cancer.
More information about Hepatitis C can be found online at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While test supplies last, Health Departments in the West Central Health District will be offering free hepatitis C tests to those who meet the flowing risk factors:
If you:
- Were born from 1945 – 1965
- Have received tattoos in a non-professional setting such as homes, friends, prison
- Have a history of Incarceration
- Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
- Received a Blood Transfusion prior to 1992
- Received Clotting Factors prior to 1987
- Have or had Sexual and household contacts to an Hepatitis C infected person
- Are a health Care workers with needle stick exposure history
- Are HIV Positive
- Received donated blood or organs before 1992
- Have certain medical conditions, such as chronic liver disease and HIV or AIDS
- Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
- Have been exposed to blood from a person who has Hepatitis C
- Are on hemodialysis
- Are born to a mother with Hepatitis C
If you have any of these risk factors it’s important to get tested.
The free Ora Sure Hepatitis C test is a quick fingerstick and takes only about 20 minutes to process. The test has greater than 98% accuracy and tests for multiple Hepatitis C genotypes at the same time. All WCHD county health departments offer free hepatitis C testing.