Hepatitis C Explained

The liver disease Hepatitis C is known to be spread in several ways. Most often there is some kind of contact with the blood of the infected person and the newly infected individual. Hepatitis C is caused by the HCV or Hepatitis C Virus and is one of the more common infections of this type and genome. What most people do not realize is the fact that you can avoid being infected by practicing safe sex and of course being careful when someone has been bleeding for whatever reason.

There are several tests that your doctor could order to determine if you have Hepatitis C or not. The most common of these is the Anti-HCV blood test. With this test the doctor is using the antibodies that make up the disease to check for a match in the blood stream. On most occasions the test will give a straight forward positive or negative answer. However, the test can not show if the disease has been in the body for a long period of time or if it has been recently contracted.

There are many people that wonder if they should be tested. There is a criteria for testing that can be followed but these are simply general guidelines and those in doubt should certainly be tested.

Those who should be tested as soon as possible include:

* Those who inject illegal narcotics into their veins. This is especially important for anyone who has ever shared a needle with another party anytime in the past. The length of time since the last injection is not a factor.

* Anyone who was on anti-clotting medication prior to 1987.

* Anyone that was notified by a blood bank that they may have received HCV positive blood.

* Those who have had unprotected sexual intercourse with a person or persons that is positive for Hepatitis C Virus.

* Babies born to mothers that have tested positive for the disease.

This is the basis for this disease of Hepatitis C. If you believe that you have been infected you should be tested right away. Your doctor will discuss with you the treatment options that are available and the severity of the case.

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