Common questions about hepatitis
Find answers to some of the most common questions about hepatitis C and hepatitis B
Read about risks, signs and symptoms of liver damage and how to keep your liver healthy.
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* Monitoring hepatitis C treatment uptake in Australia –Kirby Institute, Issue #12, 2022
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Call or ChatFind answers to some of the most common questions about hepatitis C and hepatitis B
Hep C is an easily cured viral infection. It is passed on when blood from someone who has hep C gets into the bloodstream of someone else. For more information, call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 >>
Hep C is passed on through blood-to-blood contact. Blood from someone who has hep C must get into the bloodstream of someone else. In Australia, this occurs mainly when people inject drugs, or through tattooing or body piercing. For more information, call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 >>
There are usually no symptoms. In a small number of cases, people might feel sick when they first catch hep C. It would be like the symptoms of hep B.
Click here for more information on hep C symptoms >>
For more information, call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 >>
Yes, very good new treatments are now available to everyone in Australia who has hep C.* Treatments give a 95% chance of cure (getting rid of your hep C). They have few side effects, are pills and don’t involve injections, and only last for 12 weeks (generally). For more information, call the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 >>
*Cures are available to people who have a Medicare Card or Health Care Concession Card and who aren’t hospital inpatients.
Hep B is a viral infection that affects the liver. Most adults recover from the infection. Most babies develop life-long infection (called chronic hep B). With life-long infection, chronic hep B can lead to serious liver problems. Talk to a doctor or the Hepatitis Infoline for more information. 1800 803 990 >>
People who catch hep B might have symptoms within the first six-months. These include:
Those people who have hep B longer than 6-months (called chronic hep B) don’t have any symptoms. If they do have symptoms, they include:
Click here for more information on hep B and hep C symptoms >>
For more information, talk to a doctor or call the Hepatitis Infoline 1800 803 990 >>
Consider being vaccinated for hep B if you are:
Consider being vaccinated for hep B if you work as:
Talk to a doctor or the Hepatitis Infoline for more information. 1800 803 990 >>
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