The baby boomer generation was the name
given to people born within the years of 1945 to 1965. This age group has been
found to have a high incidence of hepatitis C, as much as five times more
likely than other people.
Most hepatitis C is transferred by blood
from an infected person. Many of us baby boomers could have gotten infected
during the time before universal precautions were taken for blood, blood
products, needles, reusable syringes and the wearing of gloves during medical
procedures. Some studies show the hepatitis
C epidemic can be traced to hospital transmissions caused by the practice of
reusing needles with the peak being in 1950 when many of us baby boomers
weren’t born or were very young. Other studies show the years being the highest
from 1948 – 1963. What everyone agrees on is that before modern medicine as we
know it, there was an increased chance of transmission of hepatitis C. Being a
nurse, I had needle sticks many times while working in the hospital. Nurses
didn’t worry much about them at the time. We had our shot of gamma globulin,
filled out an incident report, and that was that. But as we gain more medical
knowledge, sometimes changes must be made.
Keep in mind the potential other ways
you could have gotten infected with hepatitis C such as getting an unsafe
tattoo, having high-risk sex and recreational drug use. These are seen as risky
behavior and caused stigma to be associated with hepatitis C for many people
and stopped them from getting tested. With studies showing the hepatitis C
spread most likely to be due to the absence of the universal precautions we now
take, wipe that stigma away and get to your health care professional.
People infected with Hepatitis C sometimes
may not even know they have it. They can live for decades without symptoms, but
more people end up with a chronic infection. Unfortunately, Hepatitis C can
lead to liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer if not treated and
cured.
Are you in the baby boomer age range? If
so, get tested. It’s just a simple blood test called a hepatitis C antibody
test that can be drawn at your primary care physician’s office. So easy. If
your physician doesn’t ask you, ask them at your yearly exam. I had it on my
list to ask my doctor and she also brought it up. I had the blood test and I
was ecstatic to be found negative. Yay!
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