Who is it for?

 

 

     The blood bourne virus(BBv) team is for anyone who is showing symptoms or who feels that they, due to past circumstances, may be at risk of hepatitis.

 

 

Benefits Of Attending the BBV Clinic

 

 

    Once  hepatitis has been identified as being present then it can be treated.  The BBV team can also offer support, and advice throughout treatment.  If  hepatitis isn’t found then the BBV team can offer harm reduction advice and guidance on safer injecting and safer drug use  or sexual behaviour.

 

 

Entry Criteria

 

    Adult, over 18, and concerned about their blood Bourne virus status.

Hepatitis

 

    Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.  There are several types of hepatitis, but there are two that you are at most risk of contracting, which are hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  There are some types that can be treated, some can be cured and some can be vaccinated against—all of them can cause damage to your liver and even be fatal if left untreated.

 

 

    If you have hepatitis you can have symptoms such as extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, feeling sick, dark urine, pale stools and yellowing of the skin (jaundice).

 

 

    The way you can catch hepatitis is through sharing needles and injecting equipment: filters, water, wipes, spoons, citric acid or vitamin C.  You can also catch it by having unprotected sex, tattooing or piercing with equipment that has not been properly sterilised or even from sharing cocaine straws and crack pipes.