Hep C Testing in Tallahassee Florida
Free HEP C Testing, Treatment & Prevention Services
Hep C Care - Tallahassee FL
Hepatitis C Testing in Tallahassee Florida
Hepatitis C is a contagious, blood-borne viral disease with lasting and potentially life-threatening complications for those infected. The virus targets the liver, so serious symptoms typically revolve around the progressive organ damage created as the pathogen replicates. This damage can become permanent and eventually lead to secondary health conditions that can outlast the infection even after successful treatment.
Several types of treatment strategies can be used to combat the disease and its effects, but treatment outcomes are likely improved if the condition is caught early. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) doesn’t always produce obvious symptoms right away, which means people can have the disease and not know it for many years.
The “silent” potential of the various means that testing is a crucial component of the control and prevention strategy on both a personal and community level. Anyone who could have been exposed or still faces some of the risk factors for infection should get tested regularly.
Health Impact and Symptoms
Most people with an HCV infection don’t produce evident symptoms immediately, so they often don’t seek medical treatment right away or seek a prompt diagnosis. In fact, researchers estimate that between 45% and 85% of people infected with the virus in the US don’t know they have the disease. However, this does not stop the virus from having serious consequences on the long-term health of these people or spreading to others through them.
Active infections of this virus can be divided into one of three stages for simpler discussion and diagnosis, but the disease is progressive and can be slow-paced. The way the disease affects an individual and the development of symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. This means that specific testing and screening are the only reliable ways to determine if someone has the disease or not.
Acute Infection
The initial stage of Hep C is called an “acute infection” and typically lasts up to six months after initial exposure. This is the best stage to initiate a full range of treatments that could lead to a complete cure for the virus. During the acute stage, a person is also least likely to produce tangible symptoms, which means they are less likely to seek treatment. The onset of infection following exposure may also produce temporary symptoms similar to other viruses, including elevated body temperature and digestive distress, but these can be easily overlooked or dismissed as caused by other conditions. This means that proactive screening is generally the most effective way to identify the infection at its earliest stages.
Symptoms of Acute Hep C
The initial signs of a Hepatitis C infection in its earliest stage can include:
- Feeling tired all day
- Mild or moderate fever
- Loss of appetite or nausea
- Changes in urine color
- Abdominal discomfort
Chronic Infection
The virus enters its advanced or “chronic” stage after about six months although every case varies based on the individual. This stage could be asymptomatic for a long time, but noticeable health changes become more likely over time as the disease slowly cripples organ function. Symptoms typically revolve around diminishing function and eventual failure of the liver.
Symptoms of Chronic Hep C
Signs of an advanced HCV infection often include:
- Mobility loss from joint pain
- General fatigue and loss of focus
- Yellowing of skin or eyes
- Persistent itchiness
- Spidery blood vessels on the skin’s surface
- Localized swelling from fluid retention
End Stage
The final or “end-stage” of an advanced Hep C infection is the natural progression of the disease if left untreated. Liver damage becomes too severe for viral treatment to remediate the symptoms, which means a transplant is the only viable solution. Signs that the disease has reached its end stage include severe abdominal swelling, internal bleeding and cognitive disorientation.
Hepatitis C in the United States: Risks and Stats
The existence of Hepatitis C wasn’t proven to the scientific community and the public until 1989, so research into the disease is only a few decades old. Its virulent and life-threatening nature has prompted the CDC to track infection, treatment and prevention data for decades. While information is not complete due to inconsistent reporting of silent infections, the growing availability of testing can improve data collection dramatically.
Infection Statistics
Researchers estimate that between 3 and 5 million people in the United States are infected with HCV. The number of reported cases has been increasing each year over the last two decades although it’s unknown how much of this increase is due to more accurate reporting versus an increase in infections. The number of new annual acute cases was estimated at almost 70,000 in 2021, according to data reported by the CDC. Disease control authorities must rely on estimates because of the large portion of infected people who are unaware that they have the virus.
Co-Infection with HIV
Co-infections are a diagnosis of multiple infectious diseases that can accelerate the symptoms or progression of each other. For example, individuals with both HIV and HCV often suffer more rapid health deterioration and liver damage from hepatitis since their immune system is already compromised. The Florida Department of Health estimates that there are nearly 400,000 people in the United States with both HIV and Hep C.
Demographic Data
Demographic data based on reported cases shows about twice as many males than females are currently living with Hep C in the US today. The vast majority of cases were reported in urban environments, but a growing number of acute cases are reported in rural areas. Research indicates that the disease is most prevalent among people in their 30s and over half of cases with risk data reported injectable drug use.
Risk Factors for Exposure
Since the hepatitis virus is transmitted via direct blood contact, its primary mode of transmission is shared hypodermic needles. Sexual and other forms of close personal contact can spread the disease, but this is considered rare and is not the typical mode of transmission. However, people with infections should take steps to inform and protect their partners with the oversight of licensed medical professionals.
Factors that indicate an elevated risk of HCV exposure include:
- Injected drug use
- Body piercings and tattoos
- Extended period of incarceration
- Unprotected sexual contact
- Sharing a home with an infected person
Treatment Options for Hep C
Hepatitis treatments have come a long way over the last two decades, which is great news for clients with active infections. There are more tools available than ever before to fight the infection directly and mitigate the long-term symptoms. Anyone with HCV should talk to a medical professional about the treatment options available depending on their personal risk factors and health data.
Direct-Acting Antivirals
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are medications that directly target the virus and interfere with its ability to replicate. Like all viruses, Hep C pathogens infect healthy cells and hijack them to multiply exponentially. This produces the disease’s dangerous symptoms and increases the number of viruses in a person’s system at the same time, so stopping replication is central to defeating the disease.
Interferon-Based Therapy
A drug combination including interferon was the go-to medicative treatment strategy in the past. However, DAAs are considered to be more effective and have fewer negative side effects in the vast majority of potential applications. This has made interferon treatments less common as a front-line defense against the disease, but it still has some potential applications in some cases.
Addressing Liver Damage
Severe and later-stage chronic infections can cause irreversible liver damage that continues to cause health problems even after the virus is gone. Potential solutions for repairing or supporting a damaged liver depend on a lot of personal factors, so clients need to consult with a licensed medical professional to learn more. Organ transplants or other types of supportive intervention may be needed in extreme cases of liver damage.
Developing a Treatment Plan
Developing a treatment plan requires an accurate assessment of the client’s infection as well as their overall health. The first step in this assessment is often to determine what type of Hep C virus is present in the person’s system. Six types of Hep C virus are currently on record, but Genotype 1 is the most common in North America and accounts for over half of the infections in the US. Genotypes 2 and 3 are responsible for most of the other infections in the country, with minimal incidents of types 4, 5 and 6.
HCV Treatment Factors
Other primary factors that influence an individual’s personalized treatment plan include their current liver health and other ongoing medications. Total viral load, or the amount of viruses currently in their system, can also influence proper treatment protocol. Past treatments for Hep C and their results could also influence how medical providers approach treatment. Clients should disclose any medications or substances they use to avoid negative interactions with their treatment plan.
Monitoring and Recovery
Professional treatment for an active infection begins and ends with monitoring to ensure the client is stable and progressing in a positive direction. Even after a successful DAA treatment that eradicates the virus, people recovering from an infection should take steps to protect their liver for the rest of their lives. This includes maintaining an active lifestyle and a balanced diet to ensure good overall health.
Get Tested in Tallahassee
As one of the states with the highest per capita rate of Hepatitis C infections, Florida residents need to know the risks and appreciate the value of regular screening. Even if you only have limited exposure to some of the risk factors, preventative testing can save your liver and your life. Screening combined with basic protective measures can drastically reduce the risk of severe symptoms from this viral disease.
At LifeLine Health Florida, we are dedicated to serving our clients with complete primary care for Hepatitis C as well as HIV and various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We help clients connect with the expert support they need to develop a solution to an ongoing health crisis that is impacting their lives. Structure, support and stability are crucial to creating a successful treatment infrastructure that gives clients the tools to navigate a confusing and difficult chapter in their life.
Contact our team today to learn more about the work we do to help protect and serve people impacted by these contagious illnesses. We are here to point you in the right direction whether that means prevention, testing or post-treatment recovery. You can also take advantage of the resources on our website to learn more about Hepatitis C and the treatment measures available to fight it.
Our Three Easy Steps
1
2
3
- Complete This Form
- Make An Appointment
- Receive Treatment
Most Asked
Is HIV treatable?
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is primarily transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are through:
Unprotected sexual contact: HIV can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs: HIV can be transmitted when needles or other equipment that has been used by an HIV-positive person is reused by someone else.
From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding: HIV can be transmitted from a mother living with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant: HIV can be transmitted through blood transfusions or organ transplants with infected blood or organs.
It’s important to note that HIV is not transmitted through everyday activities like hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils.
It’s also worth mentioning that, although the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is lower than that of other sexual behaviors, it is still possible to transmit the virus by this way.
I am pregnant and HIV positive. Will my child be born with HIV?
If you are pregnant and living with HIV, it’s important to seek medical care right away. With appropriate medical care and treatment, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be significantly reduced. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most effective method for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. ART can suppress the virus in the mother’s body, lowering the risk of the virus being passed on to the baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant and HIV-positive, you’ll be closely monitored by a team of healthcare professionals, including an obstetrician, an HIV specialist and a pediatrician. They will work together to ensure the best possible care for you and your baby. They may advise you to start the ART treatment or adjust the current regimen during pregnancy. This is necessary to achieve an undetectable viral load, which is critical in minimizing the chance of mother-to-child transmission. It’s also important to know that there is a small chance that your child may still become infected despite all the preventative measures. Therefore it’s important to test the baby for HIV shortly after birth and continue monitoring the baby’s HIV status after delivery. It’s worth noting that mother-to-child transmission of HIV is rare in developed countries due to improved treatment and awareness, as long as the mother is diagnosed and treated early.
Listen To What Our Patients Say…
Cristina Anderson
I am thankful to the nice people at Lifeline Health. I was so scared when I found out I had been exposed. They guided me and made me feel so at ease. I have not had an issues and I know it’s because I went to Lifeline Health first.
Juan Bustamonte
