Myths & Facts of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a condition characterized by inflammation of the liver. Many people have misconceptions about the disease, its symptoms and its treatment. Being informed about hepatitis C can help to prevent the spread of the disease.

Symptoms

• Most people don't know they have hepatitis C, especially if they are not displaying any symptoms of sickness. According to researchers for Genentech, about 80 percent of people with the disease don't display any symptoms and are unaware that they are infected.

Hepatitis C vs. HIV

• Many people think that the likelihood of getting hepatitis C is much less than getting HIV. But currently, hepatitis C affects four times more people than HIV, according to Genentech .

Treatment

• Since hepatitis C is a chronic, life-long condition, some people believe that it does not matter when they start treatment. But if patients start treatment before there is any damage to the liver, they may get better results. The treatment can be very difficult to endure and usually lasts for a year, so it's best to consult a liver specialist to find out whether you should seek immediate treatment.

Drug Use

• Contrary to popular belief, those who use intravenous drugs regularly are not the only ones who are at risk for hepatitis C. Even if you have used IV drugs only once or twice, or if it was many years ago, you are still at greater risk of having the disease than someone who never used IV drugs.

Sources of Infection

• You do not have to engage in risky or promiscuous behavior to develop hepatitis C. Researchers for Genentech claim that 30 percent of people who have hepatitis C do not know how they got it. The disease is mainly contracted through direct blood-to-blood contact with an infected person, such as through shared needles or from a blood transfusion you got many years ago, before blood banks began thoroughly screening donated blood.