An estimated 38,000 adult Arkansans may be living with Hepatitis C (Hep C), a blood borne virus that harms the liver. It contributed to at least 1,538 deaths in Arkansas between 1999 and 2012.
The Arkansas Department of Health recommends all adults discuss Hep C testing with their doctor and anyone born between 1945 and 1965 get tested for Hep C.
Injection drug users, people who received a blood transfusion before 1992, and several other at-risk groups should also be tested. The majority of people with Hep C often do not know they are infected. Testing can help identify infected people before irreversible liver damage occurs.
Hep C is known as the “silent killer” because many people have the infection for decades and experience no symptoms. However, Hep C typically develops into a chronic infection and eventually destroys the cells of the liver. It is a major cause of cancer and cirrhosis and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
“Hep C is a very serious illness and early detection and treatment are the only way to avoid permanent liver damage and possible death,” said Dr. Gary Wheeler, Medical Director for Infectious Disease at the Arkansas Department of Health.
Before 2013, Hep C was treated with drugs that caused side effects such as flu-like symptoms and depression, and required injections of interferon for nearly one year or longer. Now, treatments for Hep C are more effective, easier to tolerate and shorter in duration. If you are currently living with Hep C, ask your doctor about new treatment options. Your doctor will be able to decide when treatment should begin.
Details: Visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis. You can also take a short, online quiz to find out your risk for Hep C at www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/riskassessment.