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First of all, you should make sure to get
yourself tested for Hepatitis C. Symptoms of Hepaptitis C may
occur 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure, so your lover should
make sure that all the partners s/he had in the 4 months or so
prior to experiencing symptoms should also get checked out.
Hepatitis C is a liver inflammation caused
by the Hepatitis C virus. It can be transmitted through
exchange of blood. The risk of transmission can be reduced by
using condoms, latex gloves, and dental dams (with water-based
lubricants only). Also, you shouldn’t share toothbrushes,
razors, scissors, or needles that may have come into contact
with the bodily fluids of the infected person.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C include loss of
appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice (yellowing
of the skin and eyes). Only about 25% of those infected with
Hepatitis C experience these symptoms. There are often no
noticeable symptoms until liver damage occurs several years
later. People with the initial symptoms of Hepatitis C may
recover. It is a chronic condition, however, and symptoms may
occur for years. Without treatment (there is only one drug
approved for controlling the chronic symptoms of the disease),
some people may carry the virus in their bloodstream and be
contagious for a long time. People who contract Hepatitis C
are advised to rest and avoid substances that strain the liver
and slow the healing process, like drugs and alcohol.
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