DHEC advises South Carolinians to get tested for viral hepatitis

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is an infectious disease caused by a virus.

Hepatitis is what some medical professionals call ‘a hidden illness.’

“A lot of people don’t have symptoms and if they do, they are not specific symptoms,” said Tina Skinner with DHEC’s viral hepatitis division. “This can be fatigue, nausea and vomiting. You can contribute those to a lot of different things. That’s why it’s so important to get tested for hepatitis.”

Hepatitis B is spread by bodily fluids and hepatitis C is spread through blood.

“Unsafe injections and sexual practices, birth through an infected mother and unscreened blood products,” Skinner listed.

 If left untreated, chronic hepatitis can lead to liver disease and failure. 

“The first step is getting tested,” Skinner said. “The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 18 gets tested for hepatitis at least once in their lifetime. That’s the first step.”

In 2023 alone, South Carolina saw almost 2,500 cases of hepatitis C and around 500 of B.

Fortunately, there is a cure.

“We have some antivirals that are 95 percent effective for treating viral hepatitis. They come in either 8 or 12 week doses,” Skinner said. “We’re really excited about it. There’s the possibility that viral hepatitis could be eliminated.”

DHEC is offering free testing at its sites on May 21st, but you do not have to wait until then.

“DHEC always offers testing at most of our public health clinics year round at little to no cost,” Skinner said. “That’s one place you can always go to get testing done.”

For more information, check out DHEC’s site on hepatitis here.