Thousands of people in the UK may not realise they are living with a potentially deadly disease – that can be caught from a toothbrush.
According to new data released this week, around 70,000 people in the UK do not realise they are living with hepatitis C – a curable disease but one that can lead to cancer, severe liver damage and death if left untreated. People with the illness can live with it for decades before noticing symptoms – but without detection, at this point damage to the liver may be irreversible.
However, if the virus is detected during the early stages of infection, it can be cured in almost 100% of cases using simple antivirals. Now, health experts and charities are advising Brits to take a test using NHS England’s at-home testing service as party of European Testing Week to catch the virus as early as possible, reported The Mirror.
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Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, with symptoms including fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramp, depression and jaundice. It can be spread by blood-to-blood contact, including through sharing toothbrushes and razors. The blood-borne illness is commonly transmitted through shared needles and other drug-taking equipment – but the sharing razors and toothbrushes, or having medical or cosmetic procedures in countries with higher rates of the virus, can also increase the risk of infection.
Rachel Halford, CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: "With public awareness of hepatitis C so low, there is a lack of testing within the general public – there may be thousands of people who do not know they are at risk of the virus.
"You can go many years before you experience any symptoms of hepatitis C but the damage the virus can do to your liver as it goes undetected can be life-threatening. Thankfully, hepatitis C can be cured via a short course of tablets."
She added: "If you are concerned about hepatitis C, it’s never been easier to get tested. The at-home testing kit from the NHS will help you to quickly and confidentially find out if you have the virus so that you can start your treatment straight away."
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