Risky Behavior and Hepatitis C

By Barbara C. Bourassa

Your teenage daughter just came home with a surprise: a tattoo across the small of her back. Let's hope she doesn't have another surprise lurking in the wings: Hepatitis C.

Although the risk of contracting Hepatitis C through a tattoo or body piercing is very low, it is a real risk that all teens and their parents should be aware of. And those are only a few of several risky behaviors that can lead to an infection with Hepatitis C, a serious disease of the liver that can be fatal. Although 15 to 40 percent of people who contract Hepatitis C are able to fight off the virus, between 60 and 85 percent of people develop a chronic Hepatitis C infection, which can lead to liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

"Tattoos are usually things that kids get with their friends, and although there's a very low risk factor for contracting Hepatitis C in a tattoo parlor, all teens should ask before getting a tattoo if the artist is using a sterile needle, not just a washed needle," says Jackie Spencer, MSW, senior program manager for the American Liver Foundation (www.liverfoundation.org).

The same is true with body piercing, she notes—the person piercing the ear, belly, or other part of the body should be using a sterile needle. What's more, teens should not share belly rings, earrings, or other piercing items with their friends or roommates if their pierced area is not healed. "Hepatitis C is spread by blood-to-blood contact, when blood from an infected person gets into the blood system of another person," says Spencer. For this reason, sharing personal items, such as belly rings or even razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes, with anyone who is (or could be) infected with Hepatitis C should be avoided.

The riskiest behavior by far, however, for anyone (not just teens) is intravenous drug use, says Spencer. In fact, two-thirds of all new Hepatitis C infections in the U.S. are caused by injecting drugs using a dirty needle. What's more, the devices used for snorting cocaine can also spread the infection, Spencer notes, as these items come into contact with the mucous membranes found in the nose. Another risk factor for contracting Hepatitis C is unprotected sex (without a condom), especially with multiple partners, she notes.

What's more, there are other risk factors. Before 1992, there was a risk of getting hepatitis C from blood transfusions, notes Spencer. Today all donated blood is tested for Hepatitis C, so the risk for infection is extremely low, but anyone who received a blood transfusion, had an organ transplant, or had kidney dialysis could be at risk, she notes. Also, acupuncture or electrolysis with unsterilized or improperly cleaned needles carries a very small risk, she says.

Most people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms, and most doctors do not routinely test for Hepatitis C. A simple blood test can detect elevated liver enzymes, and that's usually the first step for diagnosing hepatitis or any liver disease.

What's a parent to do? Start by educating your teen about the risks of contracting Hepatitis C, says Spencer. "Second, if your teen did get a tattoo, and they thought the facility was not clean, or was not using new needles, then that's enough to have a conversation with a doctor." And third, while the symptoms of Hepatitis C are not common, parents should watch for extreme fatigue or yellow skin or eyes (called jaundice).

For more information about Hepatitis C, talk to your doctor. You may also want to visit http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/HepatitisC/overview.htm