My brother doesn't have it (yet).
2007-02-19 09:48:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Hepatitis C is transmitted via blood and blood products and has nothing to do with your age. In fact, it is possible (though very unlikelly if you just found out and your brother not having it) that you got it at birth. This not being the case (and I strongly believe it is NOT), you may have caught it from any practice sexual or other that includes insertion of an element contaminated with the virus inside your body- simply putting it; sex, intra venus drugs (these are in fact the two most common ways), blood transfusion (mistakes happen, it is unavoidable), unsanitary tattoo, ect, or even being pierced by a needle in the park and you thinking it was just a thorn in the bushes a couple of years ago.
It is not that important how you got it. What is important now is:
a. You have a huge responsability not to pass it on to others. That means that you have to inform your familly and closest friends so that they will not use any of your razors, tooth brushes ect (that may be contaminated with minor droplets of your blood invisible to the eye but able to transmit the virus) as well as any of your possible sex partners. It is only fair to give them the choice- you will be surprised as how this will help you distinguish who realy cares for you in that way. There ARE ways of safe sex, you'll need to ask your doctor on this one cause it is kinda complex. Your life should not be lessened in quality. Get informed. You are NOT a threat to society, but you need to be cautious.
b. Treatment: only a few drugs exist that help on keeping the virus inactive, strong drugs with many adverse effects. These may or may not help you, depending on how you react to them and the time you take them (and if) should be decided by a specialised doctor. There is no vacine to protect the others, so...
Understand that being informed on all aspects of this disease is the best (and actually the only way) you can lead a normal life from now on. Do NOT give up, do NOT act as if nothing happened, and never forget, we all have something...
2007-02-19 10:32:56 · answer #1 · answered by NightStalker 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever had any blood transfusions? People commonly got Hepatitis C from untested blood prior to 1992, when the first reliable tests were available. If you were born in 1991 and received a blood transfusion as a newborn/infant, that is probably where it came from. IV needle sharing or contaminated tattoo needles are another likely source, but at your age I doubt you have been exposed to either of these. While it is possible to get Hepatitis C through unprotected sex, it is not common unless you are participating in high-risk activity (multiple partners, etc.). The good news is that many people live very long and healthy lives with Hepatitis C. Some of the current treatments are being shown to put the virus into virtual remission (very low viral load). Just keep an eye on your symptoms, follow your doctor's recommendations for treatment, take care of your liver (no drinking, drugs, etc.) and you will not likely have to worry about serious effects from this disease. Here is a lot of good, useful information.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hepatitisc.html
2007-02-20 07:48:35 · answer #2 · answered by pharmgrl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You somehow came in contact with someones blood that was infected with it and it got into your blood system. If you have had sex this is the most likely way that you got it. Hep-C nor any other disease discriminates by age. You need to be very careful at anytime you have any open wounds or anytime you bleed because you can then transfer it to someone else. Be sure your brother doesn't come in contact with your blood if it comes in contact with any where that he has body fluid exposure ( eyes, mouth, sores, cuts) then he could get it too. It is now your responsibility to do what you can not to pass this to someone else. I am sorry to hear that this has happened to you.
2007-02-19 18:23:39 · answer #3 · answered by fireproof413 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just 15 if you have never used drugs intervenously then you may have contracted the virus years earlier, if you had hep. A and you never new it because of the symptoms you probably experienced were as if you had a cold or flu. If this was the case it tured to Hep B and without treatment then turned to Hep C. There are various ways to have contracted this virus and if it starts to effect your liver there is treatment such as interferon see a doc to get a liver biopsy.
2007-02-19 18:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by dany2debangel 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Umm I'm thinking you had sex and got it, or maybe you used some dirty needles. Not passing judgement on you but those are the two most common ways to get it. Sexually or blood to boold contact.
2007-02-19 17:56:08 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel S 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i got this off of Wikipedia
Avoid sharing drug needles or any other drug paraphernalia including works for injection or bills or straws
Avoid unsanitary tattoo methods
Avoid unsanitary body piercing methods and acupuncture
Avoid needlestick injury
Avoid sharing grooming utensils
Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers.
you must have done one of these to get it. well GOD Bless and good luck on healing if there is.
2007-02-19 18:17:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋