5 reasons you should get tested for hepatitis C

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by a Doctor of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
Hepatitis C is one of the most silent diseases. Viruses that cause disease enter the body through blood contact, enter the blood into the liver and live in the liver in an inactive form for a long time. If left untreated, long enough for the virus to multiply and cause illness, it can lead to cancer or difficult treatment.

1. You can get sick even if you feel fine

People with hepatitis C have almost no outward symptoms. The disease progresses silently, so many people feel healthy but when tested positive for hepatitis C virus.
Moreover, the fact that the disease's symptoms are almost absent means that there is a high possibility of community transmission because the sick person does not know they are sick. Therefore, health screening is the safest way to determine whether or not you have hepatitis C and other infectious diseases, thereby helping to take effective health protection measures.

2. Hepatitis C test is simple and fast

Only by a simple blood test can it be determined whether or not the virus is present in the body. Results are usually returned within a few days at the latest, some clinics can give results as quickly as 20 minutes. If the results are negative, but the body is likely to have been exposed in the past 6 months, retest should be made.
If the initial result is positive, the body has hepatitis C. The second Hepatitis C test will check to see if the virus has decreased (inactivated form) or thrived to become chronic. (present in most people with hepatitis C). If it turns chronic, the patient needs to see a doctor who specializes in treating the disease.

3. Get a Hepatitis C Test to Protect Family and Friends

People with hepatitis C can transmit the virus to others through blood, even if they don't have any symptoms. To prevent the spread, people should cover the wound and avoid contact with items such as:
Razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, or diabetic supplies Needles to inject drugs or steroids Equipment for body procedures or tattoos Hepatitis C is not spread through kissing, coughing, sneezing, or sharing eating utensils. The disease is rare but can be transmitted through unprotected sex.

4. Treatments can reduce or completely eliminate the virus

Hepatitis C is treated with a combination of medicines called antivirals. Depending on the location and drug response, the patient can completely eliminate the virus or the drug has no effect or causes serious side effects. Newer FDA-approved drugs are more effective and have fewer side effects, but some are more expensive.

5. Early treatment can help prevent liver cancer or liver failure

According to the CDC, for every 100 people with hepatitis C:
60-70 people will develop chronic liver disease. Up to 20 people will develop cirrhosis. 1 - 5 people die from liver cancer or liver failure. Testing and treating hepatitis C early can prevent the hepatitis C virus from causing cirrhosis or cancer. It is also easier for doctors to monitor when liver problems appear and provide timely treatment before it causes serious damage to the body.

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Reference source: Webmd.com