Hepatitis screening important for detecting illness Polk County Health Center joins with the Center for Disease Control, to remind people three important facts about Hepatitis C: 1) It is a leading cause of liver cancer. 2) Millions of Americans have hepatitis C, but don’t know it. 3) Treatments can eliminate the hepatitis C virus. “While there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, it is highly treatable,” says Polk County Health Center (PCHC) Health Nurse Jill Tice. “Unfortunately, many people don’t even realize they have hepatitis C, so it’s very important for people to be tested.” Most people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not realize that they are infected. Symptoms can take up to 30 years to develop and can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, grey-colored stools, joint pain and/or jaundice. Over time, chronic Hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. Hepatitis A, which is caused by food and water borne viruses, and Hepatitis B, which is contracted from the exchange of blood and body fluids, do have vaccinations, but there is no cure for the viruses. Hepatitis A vaccines can be administered to children as young as one year of age and are recommended and often required for trips to foreign countries. PCHC offers vaccines for Hep A, Hep B and a combination of both. Hep A vaccinations are $26 per dose for each and two doses are required to be fully immunized ($52 total cost). Hep B vaccinations cost $33 per dose for each and three doses are required to be fully immunized ($99 total). The A/B combination vaccination is $51 per dose for each and three doses are required to be fully immunized ($153 total). Vaccinations are administered at PCHC every Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Hepatitis testing is available on Wednesdays and Fridays 8 a.m.-noon. Hepatitis C testing is available to those at highest risk at no charge. For Hep A and B testing, a physician’s order is required, and there is a fee. Call 326-7250 for more information.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 12:09:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015