People were affected by Hep C decades ago
Hundreds of people in Lanarkshire with Hepatitis C will have contracted the virus as far back as the 1980s.
The Addaction Positive Support team say some people with a positive Hep C diagnosis were infected decades ago, after perhaps trying intravenous drugs just once.
Marc said: “Approximately 450 of those with Hep C in Lanarkshire will be known as‘baby Boomers’ who injected once or even a few times in the 1980s, just to try it and never did it again.
“It’s important that we reach out and find these people as they could be living a normal life and not know that they are Hep C positive at all.”
Hep C often doesn’t have any obvious symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged – which can take more than 20 years.
Initial symptoms include a high temperature, tiredness, general aches and pains, and loss of appetite.
Marc continued:“it can take 20 years, sometimes longer, for symptoms to appear, so people who maybe tried injecting drugs in the 80s may be starting to experience the symptoms now.
“It usually starts as flu-like symptoms and joint pain, so if you have a flu that won’t go away, it is important to see your GP and be honest with them to get a diagnosis sooner rather than later.
“If left untreated, Hep C could damage your liver to the extent that you’d need a transplant. If we don’t find and diagnose everyone who is Hep C positive now, further down the line we’re going to have individuals being referred to the liver unit in Edinburgh to be treated for severe liver disease.
“Our message is simple – if you think you may have Hep C, please get yourself tested. Treatment is now easier than it has ever been, and the success rate is extremely high.”