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Avatar universal

If hepatitis C is so easy to get, why don't we all have it?

Hi, I'm a 23 yo female, US, white, upper class background.  I will admit I do have OCD, which used to center around HIV and now is about hep c.  It seems so easy to get, but that makes me wonder why it's only 1% of the population who has it, not 75%.  I see studies saying 40% of patients cite no risk factors, so presumably they got it from everyday occurrences.  But if that's so easy to have happen, why don't we all have it?

In addition, my boyfriend essentially has the same "risk factors" as I do, and he refuses to get tested.  He also says I shouldn't get tested because it will only make my OCD worse.  My old therapist agrees, as do my parents.  I will probably get tested anyway, after I see a new therapist to help treat OCD.

More than anything I would like to know what my risk is.  The only risk factors I can think of:

1.) I shared a bill to snort cocaine once with a young friend.  I have no history of cocaine/drug use other than that.
2.) I once walked 2 blocks barefoot and when I got home I realized I had cut my toe, but I didn't know how it happened (upper class residential area)
3.) I go to the gym a lot, presumably at some point I've had a cut on my hand.
4.) I have had mani/pedis a few times but the places seemed hygienic.  It was all after 2004 so presumably they were aware of hep c.
5.) My brother and I were both born with jaundice (I required no treatment) however my mother says she was probably tested for hep c recently when she was approved for life insurance in 2010 and they tested her for tons of things including hiv.
6.) I have had oral surgery before, but I didn't get any blood products to my knowledge and it was all after 1997.

With all of this, I feel like I 100% have hep c, but then I realize it's still not a common disease, and MOST people don't have it.  Most people have probably encountered the things I've encountered, so I'm just confused...if it's so easy to get why don't we all have it, and what's my risk?
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96938 tn?1189799858
Oops.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh, I know it's not a lower class disease, although it does "cluster" around certain groups from what I've seen, like veterans, people who have been in prison, and being from a low socioeconomic status was listed as one of the factors.  Probably due to poorer sanitary conditions in lower income neighborhoods? I'm not sure, in fact I was surprised to see that stat at all.  
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Hep C is spread only via blood to blood contact with an infected person.
Simply having a cut or even transmitting blood with another person won't give it to you, unless that person has it.

I'm fairly certain I had it when my child was born and wasn't diagnosed until after she was grown. We shared many things, and I took care of her wounds.  Nevertheless she does not have it.

You're risk factor is low though anything is possible. I'd get tested to put your mind at ease, but as you say, your problem is not in your blood, it's your OCD. Your problem is in your mind, not in your body.
Many of us have it for years and years without knowing it.

BTW: Hep C is not restricted to lower class people. It doesn't care if you are wealthy or not. It is not a 'dirty' disease and risk factor is not higher in one neighborhood over another other than if there is more IV drug use with sharing needles.
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Avatar universal
I plan on it, at least when my family understands and won't give me trouble about it.  It just upsets me because if I have it, they probably all do too.  Because they have done all the things I've done for the most part.  I wish they would get tested.
Helpful - 0
96938 tn?1189799858
Maybe you do have HCV.  Testing is reasonable.
Helpful - 0
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