Patient information and directions. Communicable Disease Prevention leaflet issued by the Swedish Society for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control.
You have been infected with the hepatitis C virus. In many cases, it does not cause any symptoms of disease, even when a person has carried the virus for many years. This means that you may have been infected several years ago. Most people who are infected develop chronic inflammation of the liver. If the inflammation is allowed to go on for a long time, hepatitis C can damage the liver and give rise to cirrhosis of the liver, so you should remain in touch with your doctor for ongoing testing and information.
Treatment is available. There are different types of hepatitis C infection and they vary in how hard it is to treat them. If treatment is successful, you will be free from infection, but are not protected against a new hepatitis C infection.
The infectious agent is transmitted through contagious blood. Infection can be transmitted through contaminated hypodermic needles or, in rare cases, when blood comes into contact with wounds on skin or mucous membranes. Until 1991, infection could be transmitted via blood and blood products in Sweden, but after 1991 all blood has been tested for hepatitis C, so this source of infection has been almost entirely eliminated.
There is a very small risk of infection during sexual intercourse. You can become more contagious however if you are, or become, infected with other sexually transmitted diseases at the same time. It is therefore important that you use a condom during sexual intercourse with a casual partner.
Transfer of infection from mother to baby during delivery does occur, but is unusual (about 5%).
Hygiene advice
Take care to bandage wounds, even ones that are very small. If someone helps you, this person is to use plastic gloves. Pack bloodstained materials with care before throwing them away. Bloodstains on e.g. floors are to be wiped with chlorine-based bleach or similar disinfectant.
Directions
* You must attend the appointments and tests that the doctor in charge of your treatment thinks are necessary.
* If you seek medical or dental care, you must let them know that your blood is infectious.
* If anyone gets your blood in their eyes, nose or mouth, or on their skin, rinse with water. Skin that has been exposed to blood can be disinfected using e.g. chlorhexidine in alcohol. You must tell the person that your blood is infected with hepatitis C and that they must immediately get in touch with a health centre or infectious disease clinic.
* Do not share personal articles like razor blades, electric razors, toothbrushes and so on.
* If you inject drugs, you must have your own needles and syringes and not allow others to use them. You may not use the same mixing cup, and injecting devices must be stored so that they do not risk infecting others.
* You should not get a tattoo, have your ears pierced or have any other treatment that involves the use of sharp tools and which can cause bleeding. If you want to do this anyway, you must say that you have hepatitis C.
* You may not give blood or donate sperm, organs or tissue for transplant.
The disease with which you are infected is a hazard to public health under the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen). You are therefore obliged to follow the directions given by your doctor. If you request, the County Medical Officer (Smittskyddsläkaren) must reconsider the directions.