Hepatitis B and C. The reason why it's so important to know if you're infected!

Hepatitis has been in the news on a regular basis over the past few weeks. And that's not for nothing! During National Hepatitis Day on 9 November 2017 at the Utrecht trade fair, the liver experts and the NLV (Nederlandse Leverpatienten Vereniging) sounded the alarm.

In the Netherlands alone, 500 (!) people die every year as a result of this infection!

Research by the Rotterdam University Hospital shows that this number is increasing. Time to take action! NLV and the liver experts are working together in a campaign that aims to draw more attention to hepatitis among patients, doctors and the government. 500 people a year who die unnecessarily. That needs to be reduced!

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The name 'Hepatitis' is derived from Greek. "Hepar" means "liver", and "itis" means inflammation. Hepatitis is often caused by a virus. Several viruses are known: A, B, C, D, E... About one in 200 people is a carrier of such a virus.

How do you get hepatitis?

Hepatitis B and C are transmitted by sexual contact, or by blood/blood contact. The use of infected needles is also notorious. People who have (sometimes) experimented with intravenous drugs in the past, have also run the risk of picking up the virus and can carry it with them without having any complaints at the moment. Hepatitis can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth. In some countries, hepatitis occurs on a much larger scale than in the Netherlands. It is very important for people from these countries to find out whether they are infected before liver damage occurs.

Why is it so important to find out if you're infected?

Hepatitis B and C can infect you for a long time without getting any symptoms. The liver has a large reserve capacity and can function well for a long time, so that you do not notice that you have contracted anything. If the hepatitis becomes chronic, i.e. lasts longer than 6 months, serious damage to your liver can occur:

There may be cirrhosis of the liver. That means scar tissue is forming in your liver. Your liver then starts to function a little less and less well. At a later stage, chronic hepatitis can lead to a form of liver cancer.

Can you be treated for it, and doesn't that have many side effects?

Yes, you can be treated! In recent years, much more has become possible, which means that hepatitis can be treated much more effectively than in the past. And the side effects, which were serious with the earlier medication, have now become much less so.

But before you can be treated, you need to know you're infected! If you come from a country outside Western Europe, if you have used intravenous drugs in the past (even if only once!), if you had a blood transfusion before 1992, or if you had unsafe sex, have yourself tested for hepatitis B and C.

Prevention is better than cure!

There is an effective vaccine for hepatitis B. People who are at high risk of this virus can be vaccinated. These include people who work in the health care sector and come into contact with blood products as a result of their work, people who travel to countries where hepatitis is very common, or who are at increased risk due to their sexual activity.

For men who have sex with men, this vaccination can be given free of charge at the GGD, or at OneDayClinic Amsterdam.

Let us all be alert to hepatitis, and reduce mortality as a result!

STI Testing | Anonymous, fast, and affordable

Do you doubt your health because you have had unsafe sex, used intravenous drugs, had a blood transfusion before 1992 or come from a country outside Western Europe? Then don't take any chances and get tested. At OneDayClinic you can quickly obtain an anonymous, fast and affordable STI test. Call 085 070 3483 For more information, chat with us via Facebook messenger or create Directly online an appointment for one of our locations: Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam or Den Bosch.