Hepatitis A
Who Is At Risk for Hepatitis C?
Recent studies suggest that HCV may survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature at least 16 hours, but no longer than 4 days.
The following individuals are at risk for contracting HCV:
- Anyone who injected illegal drugs, including those who injected once or a few times many years ago
- People who were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987 when more advanced methods for manufacturing the products were developed
- People who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for Hepatitis C
- People who received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992 when better testing of blood donors became available
- Long-term hemodialysis patients
- People who have signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests)
- Healthcare workers after exposures (e.g., needle sticks or splashes to the eye) to HCV-positive blood on the job
- Children born to HCV-positive women
- People who have had multiple sexual partners, particularly where there is a history of a sexually transmitted disease
- Household members of an infected person
- People who have acquired a tattoo or who have had a body part pierced
References
Askari, MD, PhD, Fred K., Hepatitis C: The Silent Epidemic. Da Capo Press, 2001.
Bruce, Cara and Lisa Montanarelli, The First Year® - Hepatitis C: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. Da Capo Press, 2007.
Buhner, Stephen Harrod, Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver. Storey Publishing, 2000.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Hepatitis C Information for the Public" http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/index.htm Retrieved February 15, 2011
Cohen, Misha Ruth, Robert G. Gish and Kalia Doner, The Hepatitis C Help Book. St. Martin’s Press, 2001.
Dolan, Mathew, The Hepatitis Handbook. North Atlantic Books, 1999.
Everson, Gregory T., Hedy Weinberg, Living With Hepatitis C: A Survivor’s Guide. Hatherleigh Press, 1998.
Heathcote, Jenny, Colina Yim, Quynh Thai and Averell Sherker, Living with Hepatitis C: Everything You Need to Know.
Firefly Books, 2003.
Maddrey, Willis C., Conquering Hepatitis C. B.C. Decker Inc., 2000.
Palmer, MD, Melissa. Dr. Melissa Palmer’s Guide to Hepatitis & Liver Disease. New York: Avery Trade, 2004.
Washington, Harriet A., Living Healthy with Hepatitis C. Dell Publishing, 2000.
The American Liver Foundation. "Hepatitis C" http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/hepatitisc/ Retrieved February 15, 2011