Tips for Hepatitis C Prevention

By Lucy Gleysteen

From PHN Issue 33, Summer 2017

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. There are different kinds of hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E). Hepatitis C is a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (hep C), which lives in the blood and affects the liver. The liver is the body’s filter and processing plant. Often, when people are infected with hep C, they do not develop any symptoms. Rarely, soon after infection, some people will develop an upset stomach, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow skin. Out of everyone living with hep C, 75% to 85% will remain infected until they take curative treatment. Only 15% to 25% of people infected with the virus are able to clear it on their own. Long-term or chronic hep C infection can increase an individual’s risk for liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer, and liver failure. Continue reading “Tips for Hepatitis C Prevention” →

Safety and After-care for Prison Tattoos

By Tracey Hamilton

From PHN Issue 32, Spring 2017

The primary fear most people express about getting tattooed in prison is that they may contract the HIV virus, which may cause AIDS. HIV is only one of many viruses that can be transmitted. Syphilis, tuberculosis, strep, staph, and hepatitis are just a few of the other diseases to take into consideration. Continue reading “Safety and After-care for Prison Tattoos” →

Getting Treatment for Hepatitis C

by Suzy Subways

From PHN Issue 30, Fall 2016

Hepatitis C attacks the liver and can be deadly, but new medications can cure it in almost all cases. Hep C is common in prison. But most prisons don’t even test people to find out if they have the disease, let alone provide medication to cure it. Drug companies have been allowed to set an extremely high price for the new drugs (also called “the cure”), because we live under a free-market economic system. Prisons are not willing to pay up. Continue reading “Getting Treatment for Hepatitis C” →