Should you be tested for Hepatitis C?
348317
that is very interesting and usefull information and  would normally concern me if i had not already had a test done in the recent months due to elevated liver enzymes, i also had a blood transfusion at birth . before 1979 . thanks
376416
I think it's to check and see how well your liver is functioning. I work with adolescent boys and unfortunately, they are on various psychotropic drugs that can have damaging effects on the liver. The doctor usually orders the metabolic panel to check up on them. \nThe liver comes in contact with everything we put in our bodies so we must not neglect it. \nHope this helps.
623366
Hepatitis A (HAV) is transmitted through oral-fecal contact. Acute HAV usually has an acute phase that lasts from 4-6 weeks with or without jaundice, fatigue and hepatomeglia.\n\nHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a considerable health problem worldwide and a significant cause of liver disease and liver cancer in humans. \n\nLittle data is available about hepatitis C. It has only been in the last several years that we could test for the presence of HCV through the use of PCR RNA testing.
1075881
Hep C is mostly spread by blood, but other body fluids (like those involved with sex) can cause it to spread to others as well.\nSo unless you or your daughter have been having sex with your parents or touching their open wounds (or blood in any form) you should be safe. If you are really that worried get the test done.
1119512
Why is your liver enlarged?? Did they damage your bile ducts during surgery? Have you been tested for Hepatitis? You really, really, need a second opinion!
353097
This is a lengthy answer, sorry!\n\nThe chance of the virus being transmitted to the baby is 5-10%. Pregnanacy with Hep C is not officially discouraged.\n\nhttp://www.hepcbc.ca/pregnancy.htm\n\nPregnant patients with hepatitis C should be advised to:\n\nObtain vaccination against hepatitis viruses A and B as indicated. \nAbstain form alcohol use. \nAvoid hepatotoxic drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) that may worsen liver damage. \nInform the infant’s pediatrician of the mother’s hepatitis C status. \nNot donate blood, body organs, other tissue, or semen. \nNot share any personal items that may have blood on them (e.g., toothbrushes and razors). \nDiscuss the low but present risk for transmission with their partner and discuss the need for counseling and testing. However, HCV-positive persons with one long-term, steady sex partner do not need to change their sexual practices. \n\nLiver enzymes and PCR should be obtained at the beginning of pregnancy, and as needed thereafter\n\nThe following recommendations from The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada may be helpful in counseling women considering amniocentesis.\n\nSOGC Recommendations \n\n\n“Amniocentesis in women infected with hepatitis C does not appear to significantly increase the risk of vertical transmission, but women should be counseled that very few studies have properly addressed this possibility. \nIn HIV-positive women all noninvasive screening tools should be used prior to considering amniocentesis. \nFor women infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, the addition of noninvasive methods of prenatal risk screening, such as nuchal translucency, triple screening, and anatomic ultrasound, may help in reducing the age-related risk to a level below the threshold for genetic amniocentesis. \nFor those women infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV who insist on amniocentesis, every effort should be made to avoid inserting the needle through the placenta. “ \n\nDelivery and Postpartum\nThe risk of vertical transmission of HCV appears to be related to the level of viremia in the pregnant mother and not to the route of delivery. The virus does not appear to be transmitted when a woman's titer is < 10^6/mL or is negative. Although Tejari et al and Conte et al did not find cesarean section to be protective against transmission of HCV to the neonate Gibb et al have found the HCV maternal to child (MTC) transmission rate to be reduced in patient delivered by elective cesarean. The latter study has yet to be confirmed. Elective cesarean to reduce MCT transmission of HCV is not presently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. At delivery staff and the baby’s pediatrician should be notified of the mother’s hepatitis C carrier state.\nBreastfeeding does not appreciably increase the risk of transmitting HCV to a neonate.\n\nhttp://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Infection/HepatitisC.htm
971246
yes...he has hepatitis c. alt and ast levels can be normal one month, abnormal the next or comepletly normal. it's the natural consequence to having hcv.\n\nmine was always normal with a few abnormal in between. they couldnt find out what was wrong with me (had many symptoms) until i was 35 when a specialist tested for the actual disease.\n\nif he is having heart issues right now, it could be from the hepatitis c virus itself. hcv is not just a liver disease...it only needs the liver to reproduce it's genetically changed virons.\n\nthe other issue is that with HCV is that the main artery could be affected. \n\nmany dont understand the consequences of the chronicity of HCV until it's too late.\n\nwish i could help you more.
431601
You should get tested for aids, std's, or vd's.
681280
I'm not 100% sure, but I think it only checks enzymes...a different blood test is performed to diagnose hepatitis.
157303
Most people, because they feel well and have no symptoms, don't know they have HCV infection.\n\nSome people may have a brief illness with symptoms of hepatitis usually appearing six to twelve weeks after they have been infected with the virus. Symptoms of acute hepatitis C infection may include: fever, tiredness, jaundice [yellow skin or eyes], abdominal pain, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea [sick to your stomach].\n\nA few people will begin to experience long-term health concerns such as tiredness, lethargy or digestive problems.\n\nAbout seven out of ten people who become infected with HCV will carry the virus throughout their lives. These people remain infectious and run the risk of becoming ill at sometime in the future.\n\nThis long-term or chronic HCV infection may lead to scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis. The chance of developing cirrhosis increases with the length of infection. After twenty years, about two out of ten people with hepatitis C will have cirrhosis. People who drink alcohol are at greater risk of damaging their liver. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure or liver cancer in a small number of people.Everyone is different and with proper care and taking care of oneself a normal lifespan is possible
414761
Yes.  Just ask the volunteer group you are working with to get you a list of what you should get.  Usually its stuff like Hep A, Tetanus, Flu, and Pneumonia.  They will also want to do a TB test.
583655
You can only contract Hepatitis C through the blood. Kissing and licking are all good as long as neither one of you are kissing or licking any open wounds. Protection is not need for intercourse...like I said, it's only contracted through blood.
236409
hepatitis B is a disease that can be acquired thru unprotected sex, blood transfusion, needle sharing (drug users...exposure to blood)or organ transplant from infected individual.\nYour test will be non-reactive at a certain point. your body is producing antibodies to each hepatitis marker and they will be the determinant factor if you are still infectious or not. sadly, there is no known cure for hepatitis B. although your test may show negative to the antigen, you can still be a carrier.\nthe best way is to live a healthy life. as long as your body is healthy, you have little to worry. \nand the most important thing is...consult your doctor and have him do a work-up.
122024
Until HIV has manifested itself into full blown AIDS, you won't know unless you get tested.  I believe everyone should be tested yearly for the HIV virus.
229707
Hepatitis is an inflamation of the liver.\nIt is contracted in the same way HIV is- contact with infected bidily fluids. ie: sexually, blood to blood.\nShortly after contracting it you may have a mild flu type symptoms- fatigue, body aches etc. The symptoms are generally mild and not serious enough to take you to a doctor. The infection can then be asymptomatic for many years even decades, all the time damaging your liver and you have no idea.\nWhen you are eventually feeling ill enough to go to the doctor the liver is generally so damaged that there is nothing to be done. At this stage you may be jaundised (yellow tint to the skin cause by excess bilirubin) nauseated or vomiting, greatly fatigues.\nhep C will eventually cause your liver to have chirrosis, it will eventually fail and you will die, it is fatal.\nJust for a heads up one of the most common causes of Hep C is body piercing.\nUse precautions when having sex, use a condom, do not get body piercing, if someone elses bodily fluids splash into an area that you have a break in the skin get tested and have the person whos fluid splashed tested also. If the first test is negative, don't stop there keep getting retested for up to a year to be sure the virus isnt in your system.
1106052
Hepatitis C is transmitted mainly through exposure to blood. Sexual transmission of Hepatitis C is very uncommon.  Hepatitis C can also be transmitted through sharing Needles.  Basically if your blood comes in contact with her blood then she can get Hepatitis C.  That is why it is always best to use a condom during sex if you have any kind of disease, also the best thing to do is to tell your wife that way she can protect herself and be careful.
51348
Following up with your physician is important.  Next steps will also depend upon the outcome of your therapy.  Typically, physicians will look at your HCV RNA 6 months after completing therapy to determine if you have cleared the virus (achieved an SVR or sustained virologic response).\n\nIf you have an SVR - congratulations!  \n\nIf you do not, then you will have to talk with you doctor about retreatment or waiting for a clinical trial for non-responders.\n\nHaving HCV Genotype 1 or 4 makes the virus more difficult to eradicate (and therefore ususally require longer therapy)\n\nHCV genotype 2 or 3 is usually easier to treat and easier to clear (usually only 6 months of PegIFN and Ribavirin is required.  Although, sometimes with HCV Genotype 3a there can be fat deposits in the liver making it more difficult to treat).\n\nBest of luck on clearning the virus and achieving an SVR!