Do I Have Hepatitis C?

Are you born between 1945 and 1965?

Do you have discomfort or pain in your abdomen?

Do you feel unusually tired or exhausted during the day, even after a good night sleep?

Have you lost your appetite or lost weight?

Do you have yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)?

Do you have dark-colored urine or clay-colored stool?

Do you have nausea or vomiting?

Do you have a mild fever (under 100F)?

Do you have sore muscles or joint pain?

Do you have tendency to bleed or bruise easily?

Do you have fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)?

Do you have swelling in your legs?

Do you have spiderlike blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)?

Do you feel confusion, drowsiness and have slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)?

Have you ever used self-injected drugs not prescribed by your doctor?

Did you get a tattoo recently or did you share razors or medical equipment such as a glucose monitor with someone?

Have you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 or received clotting factor concentrates before 1987?

Have you been on hemodialysis for a long time, or do you have HIV?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease caused by hepatovirus C (HCV) that is transmitted through contaminated blood. Hepatitis C is often called a “silent” disease because some people infected with HCV have no symptoms for years. The U.S. Preventive Services Working Group recommends testing for hepatitis C for all adults between the ages of 18 and 79. There is still no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. So, if you want to get a tattoo you should choose a reputable shop and always use latex condoms during sex, especially if you have multiple sex partners.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by hepatovirus C (HCV). Hepatitis C affects millions of people in the U.S. and it is associated with more deaths than any other infectious disease. Hepatitis C can be acute and chronic. People with acute hepatitis C rarely have symptoms, but they may appear one to three months after exposure to the virus. Chronic hepatitis is a long-term infection with HCV. Treatment includes antiviral therapy. Also, 25% of people with acute hepatitis C experience “spontaneous viral clearance”, the virus clears up from their body without treatment.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver caused by hepatovirus C. The virus can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy one through contaminated blood. Hepatitis C can cause serious complications such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver cancer or liver failure. It can be treated and cured and nowadays, there are many treatment options available. It is possible to become re-infected with HCV, so stay away from high-risk situations and get regular medical examinations.