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Home , Hepatitis, Hepatitis C

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet Division of Public Health Services

Hepatitis C

What is C? • Needlestick with a dirty needle (i.e., is a (HCV) that causes tattooing, ear piercing) damage. It is estimated that 4.1 million • Needlestick or sharps exposure on the job (1.6%) Americans have been infected with • Sexual contact with someone who is HCV HCV, of whom 3.2 million are chronically positive, though this is uncommon infected. Who should be tested for hepatitis C? What are the symptoms of hepatitis C Certain groups of people who are more ? susceptible to HCV infection should be tested, Symptoms of hepatitis C can include including: (yellowing of the skin), , loss • Anyone who has ever injected illegal of appetite, , , low-grade drugs fever, pale stools, dark urine, and generalized • People who were treated for clotting itching. It is important to remember, however, problems with products made that up to 80% of people who are infected before 1987 with hepatitis C do not exhibit any symptoms • People who received an organ transplant and may not know they have it. If a person is or before July 1992 exposed to HCV, symptoms may appear • People who have ever received long-term about 6 to 8 weeks later, but this time period treatment can vary from person to person. Most HCV- • People with signs or symptoms of liver infected people carry the virus for the rest of disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests) their lives. Approximately 70% of chronically • Persons with known exposures to hepatitis infected persons develop . C, such as: о Health care workers after needle sticks How is hepatitis C spread? involving blood from a patient with HCV is spread mainly through exposure to hepatitis C infected blood and blood products. There are о Recipients of blood or organs from a several ways a person has increased risk of donor who later tested positive for becoming infected, including: hepatitis C • Sharing needles or “works” when using • Children born to HCV-positive mothers illegal injecting and intranasal drugs • Household contacts of persons who are • Receiving a blood transfusion or organ HCV positive donation from someone who is infected • Anyone born between 1945 and 1965 • Being born to an infected mother • Receiving long-term hemodialysis treatment

29 Hazen Drive  Concord, NH 03301  603-271-4496  www.dhhs.nh.gov How is hepatitis C diagnosed? For specific concerns regarding hepatitis This can be done with a . C, call the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Is there treatment for hepatitis C Communicable Disease Control at 603- infection? 271-4496 or 800-852-3345 x4496. For further information, refer to the Centers Yes, there is combination antiviral for Disease Control and Prevention available to patients who meet certain criteria. website at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis or the However, treatment depends on many NH Department of Health and Human different factors, so it is important to see a Services website at www.dhhs.nh.gov. doctor experienced in treating hepatitis C. New and improved treatments are available that can hepatitis C for many people.

What are the long-term complications of hepatitis C? After many years, chronic HCV may lead to liver , or rarely, to liver . Some cases of HCV may require a liver transplant.

People with HCV infection should avoid , and certain . Follow recommendations given by your health care provider.

Is there a for hepatitis C? No, but people with hepatitis C should be vaccinated against and B to avoid any additional liver damage from those .

How do I prevent being exposed to HCV? Do not use injecting illegal drugs, do not share needles, do not share personal items (e.g., razor, toothbrush) with an infected person, and use a latex to decrease the risk of catching or passing HCV through sexual contact.

29 Hazen Drive  Concord, NH 03301  603-271-4496  www.dhhs.nh.gov