Hepatitis C may be a debilitating illness, but there is new hope for sufferers through improved treatments, the Hepatitis C Resource Centre Otago says.
The centre is striving to raise awareness of the blood and liver disease. It will promote Hepatitis C awareness next week with a gig at ReFuel on Thursday night, from 8.30pm, featuring Kakiroa, Squirm and Kahu, followed by a DJ.
Believed to affect about 50,000 New Zealanders, including about 1200 people in Dunedin, Hepatitis C is spread through blood-to-blood contact.
While the major means of transmission was through drug users sharing injecting equipment, it was also possible to contract the disease through contact sports, fighting, prison tattoos, or something as simple as sharing a toothbrush or a razor, Hepatitis C educator Heath Te Au said.
‘‘There is a remarkably high percentage of people in the drug scene who do have Hepatitis C at present,'' Mr Te Au said.
Hepatitis C is a ‘‘silent epidemic'' as it can remain in a person's system for 15 years or more, gradually damaging the liver, until the symptoms of tiredness, depression, nausea, and discomfort become severe enough to warrant medical intervention. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer in New Zealand.
Although Hepatitis C could be very debilitating, advances in treatment - particularly the development of the advanced drug pegylated interferon - meant that an increasing number of people were being cured of the disease, Mr Te Au said.
Mr Te Au himself has successfully been treated using pegylated interferon, and Hepatitis C Resource Centre Otago receptionist Alison Beck went through the treatment last year - also successfully.
‘‘It was a bit tough at times, but it was so worth it to get the chance of being well again,'' Ms Beck said.
‘‘It means you get your life back - you have more
energy and no liver pain.''
The pegylated interferon treatment was proving effective for more than half of patients, and repeat treatments were possible.
‘‘It's great to know there is hope.''
