MAO provides Hepatitis C testing at treatment at our Montgomery and Dothan locations. We are a Community Partner of the Alabama Coalition for Testing, Interventions and Engagement in Hepatitis C Care (ACTIVE-C) project with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It is also the name of viral infections that affect the liver. Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that can range in severity from a mild illness to a serious lifelong illness that attacks the liver. Acute Hepatitis C virus is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the virus. For most people, it leads to chronic infection. This infection is a long-term illness that occurs when the virus remains in a person’s body. It can last a lifetime and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
How is Hepatitis C spread?
It is usually spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. The most common means of transmission is through sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. It can also be spread if you were born to an infected mother; sharing personal care items like razors, toothbrushes, etc.; or sexual contact. It can also be spread when blood that contains the virus is on a surface and is touched by another person who is not infected; or when a person touches and contaminates something while the blood is on their fingers or hands.
Who is mostly at risk for Hepatitis C?
- Current or former Injection drug users
- Recipients of blood transfusions
- People who have received tattoos from non-sterile instruments
- HIV-infected persons
- Children born to mothers with Hepatitis C
- Baby boomers born between 1945-1965
- Sharing personal care items such as razors, toothbrushes, etc. (Anything in contact with blood)
- Sexual contact
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C?
- Fever
- Fatigue (Feeling tired)
- Dark urine
- Grey-colored stool
- Joint pain
- Jaundice (Yellow skin and eyes)
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
Who should get tested for Hepatitis C?
- Current or former Injection drug users
- Recipients of blood transfusions
- People who have received tattoos from non-sterile instruments
- HIV-infected persons
- Children born to mothers with Hepatitis C
- Baby boomers born between 1945-1965
- Sharing personal care items such as razors, toothbrushes, etc. (Anything in contact with blood)
- Sexual contact
- You have an abnormal liver test or liver disease
- You received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992.
- You have been exposed to blood through a needlestick or other sharp object injury.
Tests
Several different blood tests are used to test Hepatitis C. Testing at MAO involves a finger prick, and results are ready in about 20 minutes.
Can Hepatitis C be treated?
Yes. New and improved treatments are available that can cure Hepatitis C for most people. However, treatment depends on many different factors, so it is important to talk to a doctor about options.
For further information please contact the Hepatitis C Coordinator, Bretia Gordon at (334) 280-3349.
To learn more about Hepatitis C, please see the links below
Other videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF5WvJq1Z0k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRr_cilgfEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJrt45wCw50
Resources
http://hepc.liverfoundation.org/