At-home testing for the condition is available at home through the NHS.
Many people carry this virus without knowing it(Image: Carl Court/Getty Images)
The NHS is warning of a mostly symptomless condition which many people are unaware they are carrying. The health service issued the warning on X, formerly Twitter, urging those who think they may have contracted the condition to get tested.
According to the NHS, lots of people have hepatitis C without realising it. If it remains untreated, the virus can damage the liver and could lead to life-threatening conditions.
The NHS website says: “Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.
“But with modern treatments, it’s usually possible to cure the infection, and most people with it will have a normal life expectancy.
“It’s estimated around 118,000 people in the UK had chronic hepatitis C in 2019. You can become infected with it if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.”
The virus is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact, according to the NHS.
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Some ways the infection can be spread include:
- sharing unsterilised needles – particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs
- sharing razors or toothbrushes
- from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby
- through unprotected sex – although this is very rare
In the UK, most hepatitis C infections happen in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past, and it’s estimated that around half of those who inject drugs have been infected with the virus.
Hepatitis C is often symptomless until significant damage has been done, which is why testing is so important.
Symptoms of hepatitis C
Testing for hepatitis C is available on the NHS(Image: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)
Hepatitis C often does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged.
This means many people have the infection without realising it, and when symptoms do occur, they can sometimes be mistaken for another condition.
Symptoms can include:
- flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and a high temperature (fever)
- feeling tired all the time
- loss of appetite
- stomach ache
- feeling and being sick
The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested, said the health service.
Getting tested for hepatitis C
The NHS says to seek medical advice if you have persistent symptoms of hepatitis C, or if there’s a risk you’re infected (even if you do not have any symptoms).
The health service’s website says: “A blood test can be carried out to see if you have the infection. You can do a finger-prick test at home to find out if you have hepatitis C.
“GPs, sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or drug treatment services also offer testing for hepatitis C.
“Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent or limit any damage to your liver, as well as help ensure the infection is not passed on to other people.”
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