Submitted by Dr. Samantha Ritchie, Vantage Physicians
You know you’re a baby boomer if…you know the words to the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies.
You know you’re a baby boomer if…you have ever given serious consideration to whether you are a Ginger or a Maryann.
Baby boomers out there, you may want to consider getting tested for Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C, a virus that can cause liver disease, is a significant problem in the United States. It is estimated that 3.2 million Americans have Hepatitis C, and 75% of them are baby boomers. Risk factors for getting the virus include recreational IV drug use, sex with intravenous drug users, hemodialysis, and a history of blood transfusions before 1992. However, lots of people who have Hepatitis C have no idea how they got it. Most people who have Hepatitis C have no symptoms, or have very vague symptoms, like fatigue and nausea.
Some organizations, such as the Center for Disease Control, CDC, are now suggesting that all people in the United States who were born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for Hepatitis C. There are treatments now for Hepatitis C that have improved to the point where it would be cost effective to treat those found to have the disease. The CDC estimates that the one-time testing could save more than 120,000 lives.
Other organizations, such as the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) don’t agree that people with no risk factors should be screened, but do agree that people with risk factors (history of IV drug use, etc.) should be tested.
It is a reasonable idea to discuss being tested for Hepatitis C with your doctor.
The screening test is a simple blood test called EIA. If that is negative, no further testing needs to be done. If it is positive, then another test called HCV RNA should be done to confirm that the person does, in fact, have hepatitis C.
You should discuss Hepatitis testing at your wellness visit with your family doctor. If you do not have a doctor to call your own, why not try Vantage Physicians? We are a direct Medical Practice so we offer you something that many physicians cannot – time. Our routine visits are 30 minutes long and wellness visits last from 60-90 minutes. See our website www.VantagePhysicians.net for more details.
