WHO IS AT RISK FOR HEP C?

Anyone who was exposed to the blood of an infected person is at risk of having hepatitis C. You should talk to a doctor about getting tested for the disease if you:

·        Have injected drugs or anything else, such as hormones, steroids, silicone, or non-prescription medications

·        Received a blood transfusion prior to 1992, or long-term hemodialysis.

·        Are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or other sources of HCV-positive blood

·        Were born to an HCV-infected mother

·        Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners or have a history of sexually transmitted disease

·        Received tattoos or body piercings with unsterile needles, especially in an unregulated setting

·        Have household exposure, through the sharing of razors, toothbrushes or personal items with an HCV infected person

·        Sharing needles and other drug injection equipment (like cookers & cotton)

SYMPTOMS
Most people don’t automatically feel sick when they first get infected with hepatitis C. That’s why people can have hepatitis C for decades without knowing it. Some people develop symptoms right away, but usually no symptoms appear until the liver is seriously damaged, ten to thirty years after infection.

Symptoms can include:
Jaundice
Nausea
Pain in the right side
Dark brown urine, or pale feces
Loss of appetite/weight loss

ANYONE WHO IS TRANSGENDER and using or sharing injection hormones/steroids is at RISK for Hep C. So ALWAYS use clean needles! And please don’t share!