Understanding Hepatitis C
According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 2.4 million people in America have Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver.
It is curable.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection, meaning that it is spread by contact with contaminated blood or infectious bodily fluids. This can occur through sharing needles and unsterile tattoo equipment. Other possible transmission methods include having unprotected sex with an HCV-infected person, as well as sharing a razor or toothbrush with someone with the infection. Another possible form of transmission is from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, labor, or nursing.
For some people, Hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for more than half of people who become infected with the Hepatitis C virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic Hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Is Hepatitis C treatable?
Over the past decade, scientists have developed new therapeutic drugs to help fight Hepatitis C. Simple, orally administered direct acting antiviral (DAAs) drugs, such as the combination medicine sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, can cure the highly contagious disease effectively within just 12 weeks.
The variety of new treatment options means that TPMG Healthcare providers can offer personalized care to every patient.
TPMG Healthcare physicians treat Hepatitis C with a combination of antiviral medications that work to reduce the amount of virus in the body and clear the infection. Approximately 95% of patients are cured after one course of treatment. Treatment includes oral medications, and monthly appointments are scheduled for prescription refills and blood work. The specific medications used and the length of treatment depend on the type of Hepatitis C virus that a patient has, as well as other factors such as their overall health and prior treatment history.
Most insurance companies cover the entire cost of Hepatitis C treatment once during a person’s life. TPMG Healthcare also offers a financial assistance program to cover the costs of testing, diagnosis, and treatment for patients who qualify. Contact our team today for more information.
The people who are most at risk for Hepatitis C are individuals who:
Were born between 1945-1965
Had a blood transfusion before 1992
Have injected or snorted drugs
Have been incarcerated
Are living with HIV
Received a tattoo or piercing in an unlicensed setting
Are on hemodialysis
Have multiple sexual partners
Engage in receptive anal sex
Have been diagnosed with an STD in the last year
Are on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
Are of the trans-feminine experience
Hepatitis C is known as "the silent epidemic" because many people have mild or no symptoms. Left untreated, the viral infection can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and ultimately liver cancer.
Routine periodic testing is recommended for adults aged 18 to 79 years.
About 90% of people living with hepatitis are unaware they have it, according to the WHO.
The TPMG Healthcare Model
At TPMG Healthcare, we believe in an interdisciplinary + collaborative approach to healthcare. Our team works with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, tailored to provide the support needed to manage their Hepatitis C and achieve long-term recovery.
Patients undergoing treatment will have complete and comprehensive knowledge of their individual care plan, including confirming appointment dates, access to transportation, tracking active medications usage, and procuring refills at our partner pharmacy.