Where to find it
CDC: Google: “cdc hcv faq public”
US Department Veterans Affairs: Google: “va hepc review for patients”
Mayo Clinic: Google: “mayo hcv symptoms”
World Health Organization: Google: “who hcv”
Q. Recently, I heard a public service announcement recommending that all baby boomers be tested for hepatitis C. What is hepatitis C? What is the reasoning behind this recommendation?
A. Hepatitis C, often called HepC or HCV infection, is an infectious disease that attacks the liver. Caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), it spreads primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C is either acute or chronic.
Acute hepatitis C is a short-term illness occurring within six months of exposure to the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, once infected, nearly 80 percent of untreated people develop the chronic form of the disease.
Chronic hepatitis C is a long-term illness that occurs when HCV remains in a person’s body. It can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis C is usually a “silent” disease for many years until the virus damages the liver enough to cause the signs and symptoms of liver disease. These include easy bruising and bleeding, fatigue, dark-colored urine, itchy skin, fluid buildup in the abdomen, swelling in the legs and weight loss.
From 2.7 million to 3.9 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C, according to the CDC, and three in every four of them are baby boomers (born 1946-1964). Many became infected during blood transfusions or after organ transplants, before the virus was identified and before the blood supply was tested for the disease. Other ways people can become infected with hepatitis C include sharing needles or syringes used to inject drugs and from needlestick injuries in healthcare settings. Less commonly, HCV can also be transmitted through sexual contact and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby.
Because the only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested, it’s important for baby boomers to get the simple blood test for hepatitis C antibodies. A positive test result means that the person is or has been infected with HCV and a second test is needed to determine if the virus is currently present. Those who test positive for the hepatitis virus then undergo yet further testing to identify the virus genotype. There are six genotypes and they respond differently to treatment. The genotype and the degree of liver damage are used to guide treatment decisions and the management of the disease.
Hepatitis C is typically treated with oral antiviral medications that are extremely good at attacking the virus and preventing it from multiplying. The American Liver Foundation has treatment information at its HepC123 website, hepc.liverfoundation.org.
Gerra Lewis volunteers with the Grillo Center, which offers free, confidential research to assist in health understanding and decisions. To use this service, contact us at grillocenterhealth.org, 720-854-7293 or 4715 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. No research or assistance should be interpreted as medical advice. We encourage informed consultation with your health care provider.