Sign In
Skip to Main Content
  • Sacramento County
  • Live/Visit |
  • Business |
  • Government |
  • Search

SACCOUNTY NEWS

  • Twitter - Sacramento County
  • Facebook - Sacramento County
  • Instagram - Sacramento County
  • More News
      • 2023 Stories
      • 2022 Stories
      • 2021 Stories
      • 2020 Stories
      • 2019 Stories
      • 2018 Stories
      • 2017 Stories
      • 2016 Stories
      • 2015 Stories
  • Events
      • Countywide Calendar
      • Sacramento365
  • Photo / Video
      • Video Galleries
      • Photo Galleries
  • Public Information
      • Public Information Office
      • County Press Releases
      • Public Records Act Requests
      • Contact Us

All Adults Should Get Tested for Hepatitis C

5/27/2021
Health & Social Services

Page Image
Get tested for hepatitis C - It could save your life.
Image Caption
Evernote
 
 

Article Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Page Content
​An estimated 2.4 million people are living with hepatitis C in the United States. However, many don’t know they are infected because chronic hepatitis C does not have symptoms for 20 years or more. By that time, serious damage can occur to your liver and can lead to death. The good news is that life-saving treatments can cure hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks to prevent further liver damage, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Getting tested for hepatitis C is the first step. 

“We want to educate the community that lives can be saved just by getting tested for hepatitis C. This virus is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants,” said Sacramento County Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye. 

The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver that can affect its function. Although hepatitis is caused by a virus and exposure to the blood of an infected person most often, toxins, some medications, certain medical conditions and heavy alcohol use can also cause hepatitis. The most common types of viral hepatitis in the U.S. are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Although all types of viral hepatitis can cause similar symptoms, they are spread in different ways, have different treatments, and some types of hepatitis are more serious than others.

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. When someone is first infected with the hepatitis C virus, they can have a very mild illness with few symptoms or could require hospitalization. Less than half of people who get hepatitis C are able to get rid of the virus without treatment. Those who get infected will likely develop a chronic lifelong infection, which left untreated can cause serious health problems including liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer and death.

CDC recommends you get tested for hepatitis C if you:
  • Are 18 years old and older
  • Are pregnant (get tested during each pregnancy)
  • Currently inject drugs (get tested regularly)
  • Have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
  • Have HIV
  • Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
  • Are on hemodialysis
  • Received donated blood or organs before July 1992
  • Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
  • Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C
  • Were born to a mother with hepatitis C

The hepatitis C test is a blood test that looks for HCV antibodies to find out if someone has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus. Test results can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to come back. Rapid anti-HCV tests are available in some health clinics and the results of these tests are available in 20 to 30 minutes. If you are positive for the HCV antibodies, a follow-up test called NAT/PCR test will be done. 

Learn more about hepatitis C and talk to your doctor about getting tested for hepatitis C – it could save your life. You can also contact the Sacramento County Sexual Health Clinic for testing, call 916-875-1551 or go to www.SacSexualHealth.org for more information. 

Contact Info:

SC Contact Information

​​BRENDA BONGIORNO, SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE​​​

Latest Headlines

  • Safe Sleep Baby Education: A Lifesaving Initiative
  • New Guidance for COVID Vaccines
  • Keep Your Pets Safe During a Disaster
  • Oriental Fruit Flies Detected in Sacramento County
  • Get Outside on National Public Lands Day

Categories

  • Animals/Pets/Insects
  • Art & Things To Do
  • County Governance, Operations, Policy
  • Economic Development, Community Planning, Agriculture
  • Emergency/Preparedness
  • Green & Technology
  • Health & Social Services
  • Homelessness
  • Law/Justice
  • Media Releases / Advisories
  • Parks/Recreation
  • Taxes & Voting
  • Transportation & Airports
  • Utility & Residential Services

News Archive

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

Photo Gallery
Check out our photo galleries showcasing the beauty of Sac County and our work to ensure it.
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
Check out our videos about SacCounty Services.
Video Gallery
Sacramento365
A website designed to serve as the all-inclusive arts and entertainment resource for Sacramento County.
Sacramento365
More News
2023 Stories
2022 Stories
2021 Stories
2020 Stories
2019 Stories
2018 Stories
2017 Stories
2016 Stories
2015 Stories
Events
Countywide Calendar
Sacramento365
Galleries
Video Gallery
Photo Gallery
Public Information
Public Information Office
County Press Releases (2016-2010)
Public Records Act Requests
Contact Us

SACCOUNTY NEWS

Connect with us
Sign-up for news updates
Sign Up >
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Email
  • Sacramento Alert
  • LinkedIn
  • Flickr
  • News
  • Metro Cable
  • Instagram
© Copyright by SACCOUNTY NEWS
Website Policies Use | Contact Us | Report a Problem | Connect with Us | Website Feedback Form
Search