Download Hepatitis C What is hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is a serious, contagious

Hepatitis C
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a serious, contagious disease that causes the liver to become
inflamed. Most people with hepatitis C have no complaints. This is no indicator of
the seriousness of the disease. Twenty-five percent of people with hepatitis C suffer
from severe liver damage. They may develop liver cancer for example. Vaccination
is not an option, treatment, however, is.
How do you become infected with hepatitis C?
You can contract hepatitis C if the blood of someone who carries this disease comes
into contact with your blood. This can happen for example when you cut yourself
with a razor which has been used by someone with hepatitis C. Or if you get
injected with a contaminated needle. You can also become infected with hepatitis C
by a blood transfusion. In the Netherlands, blood has been checked for hepatitis C
since 1992. In many countries this is not yet the case. In many countries in Africa,
Asia and South en Central America, Eastern Europe and Spain and Italy hepatitis C
occurs frequently. The risk of infection is bigger here than in the Netherlands. You
may have been infected there through contact with blood, for example during a
medical treatment for which contaminated materials have been used. Such as an
operation, circumcision or dental treatment. Or if you got a tattoo or piercing there.
In some countries, one of which is Egypt, there is a high incidence of hepatitis C.
Here, it is possible that you were already infected during your birth of by
inoculations during your childhood. You do not become infected through regular
contact with people such as shaking hands, kissing, hugging, using the same
service or the same toilet seat. There is a very small risk of infection through sexual
contact.
How do you know if you are infected?
An infection with hepatitis C usually does not cause any symptoms. You can
therefore be infected without knowing it. Only a blood test can clarify if you are
infected. The Hepatitis C risk test will show you if you may have run the risk of
contracting hepatitis C.
Why is it important to know that you are infected?
Hepatitis C may result in a serious liver disease. It is impossible to tell when this
will happen. It may even happen ten to twenty years after infection. Treating
hepatitis C may prevent you from becoming seriously ill. And if you know that you
are infected, you can also ensure you do not infect others.
What can you do?
Do you think you have run the risk of being infected with hepatitis C? In that case,
you should make an appointment with your GP. He/she will discuss with you if you
may be infected. If that is the case, the GP will refer you to hospital or the
laboratory to have your blood tested.
Hepatitis C can be treated!
The treatment of hepatitis C has much improved over the last few years. The
treatment consists of giving injections and taking pills. The treatment will take at
least six months and is usually effective.
How can you prevent infection?
You can only prevent infection by not coming into contact with other people’s blood.
You should therefore observe the following rules:
- do not use other people’s razor blades.
- do not undergo treatments by illegal dentists or doctors.
- be careful with medical or dental treatments abroad. Ask if there is a sterile way
of working and, in case of doubt, have your blood tested in the Netherlands.
- only have a tattoo or piercing done in shops that work in a clean and sterile
manner
- if you use hard drugs, only use clean materials
Would you like more information?
On www.hebikhepatitis.nl you will find more information. You can also fill out an
extensive risk test there which is also available in English. Do you still have
questions? Please call the Hepatitis Info line on 033-422 09 88 or go to your GP or
Public Health Service.