Hepatitis C is the most COMMON chronic blood borne virus in the U.S. and is the leading cause of liver transplants. About 5 million people are infected with Hepatitis C but only about 1 million know it. There are NO SYMPTOMS until you get to the end stages. You should get TESTED for Hepatitis C if you:

* received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992
* were notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
* have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented only one time many years ago (or snorted any drugs)
* were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
* have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
* have had tattoos or body piercings
* had sexual activity that involved contact with blood
* have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors
* are a veteran
* have shared razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. with an infected person
* are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or first responders
* have ever been incarcerated
* also 5%-10% of babies born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C

There are treatments for Hepatitis C that are about 50 to 80% effective depending upon what genotype you have. Early diagnosis is important. There are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B but NO VACCINE for Hepatitis C. It is transmitted blood to blood. Get tested! Get vaccinated!

A good link for information for Hepatitis is: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/

Some links with helpful information can be found at:
http://www.healsofthesouth.org/Links.html

Peace

Hepatitis C is a viral liver disease that has nothing to do with toenails.

http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/25/114309.htm

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by a hepatotropic virus called Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic hepatitis can result later in cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Like HIV, HCV is caused by a retrovirus, and while the symptoms can be medically managed, there are no curative treatements. Although modification of diet and early medical intervention are helpful, people with HCV infection often experience few alarming symptoms, and subesquently do not seek treatment. An estimated 150-200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. In the U.S., those with a history of intravenous drug use, tattoos, or who have been exposed to blood via unsafe sex or social practices are high risk for this disease. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplant in the United States.

The hepatitis C virus is one of six known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, E, G.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C

TO whoever said Hep C has nothing to do with toenails I suggest you reread my answer. Of course it is a liver diease...... I said that..... but you CAN get hepatitis C at a beauty parlor if the person before you has it and the person knicked them drawing blood with the nail clippers and then worked on you and knicked YOU. That is a blood to blood transmission. Hepatitis C does NOT die when it hits the air like HIV and other viruses. It can live on these utensils,in tatoo ink, on medical and dental instruments for 4 days or a bit longer. It can live on bloody kleenexes and if the next person picked it up with a cut on their hand that is a BLOOD TO BLOOD transmssion. Peace!