NHS 'get tested' warning to people aged 18 and over

Many people aged 18 and over are being urged to get tested for a virus they may have without knowing about it. An estimated 60,000 people in England are currently living with chronic Hepatitis C without a diagnosis.

This is because often there are no specific symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. When symptoms do occur, they can often be mistaken for other conditions, and the illness, known as Hep C, can be very serious if left untreated.

In a post on X on Monday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: "Many people with chronic #HepatitisC may not know they’re living with the infection, so it’s vitally important to get tested if you think you may be at risk. If you think you may be at risk, either speak to your GP or order an at-home test."

People aged 18 and over can do a free and confidential Hep C test at home. You prick your finger to get some blood and send it off for testing, known as self-sampling. NHS guidance states this is only available for adults living in England, and adds that Hep C can be treated with a free course of tablets from the NHS.

Health bosses have said: "For most people, hepatitis C is cured after taking the tablets for 8 to 12 weeks. Modern hepatitis C treatment is simple to take and usually has very few side effects."

You can become infected with Hep C if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person. Other bodily fluids can also contain the virus, but blood contains the highest level of it, and just a small trace of blood can cause an infection.

The most common ways people contract Hep Care through sharing drug paraphernalia and having unprotected sex, although there is a potential risk from sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors, and scissors. Anyone who received a blood transfusion before 1996 could also be at risk, as is anyone who has had a blood transfusion or other medical or dental treatment abroad.

In cases where there are symptoms, these are most commonly a high temperature, tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach pains, and/or feeling or being sick, and these appear within the first six months of infection, known as acute Hep C. Around one in five people who have symptoms will also experience yellowing of the eyes and skin, known as jaundice.

In around one in four people who are infected with Hep C, the immune system will kill the virus within a few months and the person will have no further symptoms unless they are reinfected. In remaining cases, the virus remains within the body for many months or years, known as chronic hepatitis.

Later (chronic) symptoms can vary widely, but the most common problems experienced include feeling tired all the time, joint and muscle aches and pains, feeling sick, short term memory, concentration and mental problems, often referred to as "brain fog", mood swings, depression or anxiety, indigestion or bloating, itchy skin, and/or abdominal pain.

The NHS website states that you should see a GP if you persistently have any of the later symptoms, or if they keep returning. And you can order a Hep C home testing kit here