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Hepatitis C

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Hepatitis C can also be called Hep C or HCV.

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Important: Contact

For information on testing, referral and treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, contact the Viral Hepatitis service at NHS Highland:

Get tested. Get treated. Get cured.

About hepatitis C

Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver. When your liver becomes inflamed, it can become damaged and eventually have difficulty carrying out its various and vital functions. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer which can result in premature death.

However, hepatitis C can be cured with treatment. The treatment is very straightforward and consists of a short course of tablets. The current treatments are safe and very effective and the majority of people do not feel any side-effects. This is different to the old treatments which took longer to work and had more side effects.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?

Most people with hepatitis C won’t have any symptoms until there has been significant liver damage. This means that many people infected with hepatitis C are completely unaware of it because of the often silent nature of the infection.

See more information on the potential symptoms at NHS inform.

How do you get hepatitis C and how can it be prevented?

You can become infected with hepatitis C if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.

In Scotland, one of the more common ways people become infected with the hepatitis C virus is by sharing needles and other injecting equipment such as water, filters and syringes.

If you have ever injected or snorted drugs and shared equipment - including performance and image enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids - even just once, and even if it was many years ago, you could be at risk of having hepatitis C and should get tested.

There are other risks for hepatitis C including:

  • tattoos, acupuncture and piercings that are carried out abroad or in unlicensed premises where equipment may not be sterile
  • having received a transfusion of blood or blood products in the UK before 1996
  • undergoing medical or dental treatment in countries where infection control is poor and you suspect the equipment may not have been sterilised properly
  • being born or brought up in an area where hepatitis C is common such as Eastern Mediterranean and European Regions, and Asia
  • sharing toothbrushes or razors contaminated with infected blood
  • having sex with an infected person without using a condom - if your partner has hepatitis C, you should be tested

Prevention

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but there are lots of other measures you can take to reduce your risk of getting hepatitis C:

  • If you inject drugs, never share needles, syringes, water or any other equipment. Always use a fresh safe injecting kit every time you inject.
  • Use a condom when having sex.
  • Go to a licensed practitioner if you are getting a tattoo or piercing.
  • Keep cuts and wounds clean and covered with a waterproof dressing.
  • Wear rubber gloves to clean up blood spills.
  • Never share toothbrushes or razors.

What is the test for hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is diagnosed with a simple blood test. If you think you have been at risk, please get tested.

If you are diagnosed with hepatitis C you will be referred to the Viral Hepatitis Specialist Nurse. The nurse will perform blood tests and a scan to determine what condition your liver is in and discuss treatment.

Where can you get tested for hepatitis C?

There are lots of ways in which you can be tested. If you are having any difficulty accessing a test for HCV please contact the Viral Hepatitis service. Testing is offered:

Can hepatitis C be cured?

Yes, hepatitis C can be cured with a short course (two to three months) of tablets.

How can treatment for hepatitis C be accessed?

If you have hepatitis C and would like to discuss treatment please contact the Viral Hepatitis service.

Can you get hepatitis C again if you have had it before?

Yes, even if you have successfully been treated or your body has spontaneously cleared hepatitis C, you do not become immune and you are at risk of contracting the virus again if you put yourself at risk.

Elimination of hepatitis C

The new treatments have progressed significantly over recent years with current treatment options providing the potential to cure almost all those infected with HCV. This has led to the ambition across the world to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat through effective treatment and prevention of transmission by 2030.

Within Scotland, the Scottish Government has made a commitment to treat more people with hepatitis C with the aim of eliminating HCV infection and HCV-related severe disease and death as a major public health concern in Scotland by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.

NHS Highland is committed towards the ambition of eliminating HCV in Scotland. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity and a wide range of activities are underway to support this aim. If you would like to know more about the work we are doing please contact Dr Jenny Wares, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Strategic Lead for BBVs.

Important: Hepatitis C guidance at NHS inform

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Hepatitis C is a liver infection that’s spread through blood. It can be cured with treatment. But if left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.

See more information on hepatitis C at NHS inform:

  • symptoms
  • when to get medical advice
  • treatments
  • how hepatitis C is spread
  • how to prevent hepatitis C
  • complications

Further information

  • Hepatitis B

    Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver and can lead to acute (short term) or chronic (long term) infection.

  • Hepatitis C

    Hepatitis C can also be called Hep C or HCV.

Last updated: 14 October 2024

Next review date: 29 January 2025