In the past, we mentioned that there are four characteristics of hepatitis C infection (four more): more symptoms are not obvious or atypical; more transaminases are normal or mildly abnormal; more infections develop into chronic; and more cirrhosis and liver cancer occur. In fact, another clinical characteristic of hepatitis C is that early detection and early treatment are effective, and the latest information shows that at least half of the hepatitis C cases can achieve clinical cure. Therefore, early detection of hepatitis C is particularly important. In fact, early detection of hepatitis C is both easy and difficult. The easy part is that the diagnosis of hepatitis C is very simple, and a blood test at the hospital will tell you, but the difficult part is that there are few abnormalities in hepatitis C infection, especially in the early stages, and most people don’t even think to look for hepatitis C. According to a recent report, Germany estimates that more than 90% of people infected with hepatitis C have not been diagnosed, while in Poland, also in Europe, the figure is even closer to 98%. We do not have specific figures for this in our country, but one set of data shows that the number of cases detected and reported nationwide does increase year by year as public awareness of hepatitis C increases: more than 21,100 new cases of hepatitis C were reported in China in 2003, more than 37,700 in 2004, increasing to more than 52,000 in 2005, and already more than 70,000 in 2006. The above shows that it is not uncommon to find hepatitis C infection around us, but most of them are just undetected. So, how can we detect hepatitis C early? In summary, there are four aspects. First, it is to raise public awareness of hepatitis C prevention. Experts say that increasing public awareness of hepatitis C will have a positive impact on the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C. A testament to this is France, where national awareness of hepatitis has increased significantly as a result of various campaigns advocated by the government. Currently, 56% of infected people are aware of their hepatitis virus infection, compared to 24% in 1994. We need to be aware that hepatitis C is a common and frequent disease, and we can always encounter people with hepatitis C around our lives. It is not enough to rely on personal hygiene habits alone, for example, we cannot guarantee that we will not have injections, surgery or blood transfusions throughout our lives. Hepatitis C has its own specific transmission routes and patterns, and there are some situations that require special attention, such as trying to avoid poorly sterilized pedicures, dental fillings and tattoo procedures, while there are other situations that are not a big deal, such as eating together, dining out, traveling, etc. Hepatitis C is easy to diagnose and treatment is mostly effective in the early stages of diagnosis, while the late stages have serious consequences. Detecting hepatitis C in time and taking steps to do so will not only protect us, but also help protect our families and others in the community. Hepatitis C awareness requires not only the leadership of the government, but also the efforts of the news media, academic organizations, medical professionals, etc., and the participation of our general public. Second, high-risk groups must have timely laboratory tests. These high-risk groups include people who have had blood transfusions and blood products, intravenous drug addicts, people with family members who have hepatitis C and are in close contact with them, babies and children born to hepatitis C positive mothers, homosexuals and people who have had unclean sex, people who have received organ transplants, people on long-term hemodialysis, people who have had dental surgery, intramuscular or transvenous injections, acupuncture, pedicures, tattoos, ear piercing, etc. in poorly sterilized places, and people who are HIV positive. people, and people who are HIV-positive. We can check to see if we or our family members belong to the above, and if so, we must go to the hospital for a laboratory test for hepatitis C. Thirdly, if you have unexplained and persistent weakness, decreased appetite, nausea, darkening of the face, discomfort in the right upper abdomen, abnormal transaminases, enlarged liver and spleen, and decreased white blood cells and platelets, you should be checked for hepatitis C. Although there are often no typical symptoms of early hepatitis C, some patients may still show abnormal manifestations, especially when the disease is active. It is worth noting that because hepatitis B and alcoholic liver disease are quite common in China, many people, once they have symptoms or abnormal liver function, first think of hepatitis B or alcohol consumption as the cause, and ignore the factor of hepatitis C. It happens that people who are positive for hepatitis B are also at high risk for hepatitis C, and both have similar transmission routes. Fourth, is to improve the testing methods for hepatitis C. The main tests for hepatitis C include: serum biochemistry testing, hepatitis C antibody testing, hepatitis C virus RNA testing, ultrasound and liver pathology. The hepatitis C antibody test is the most important tool used to diagnose hepatitis C. It is indicated for screening in high-risk groups and can also be used for initial screening of people with hepatitis C infection. If the test result is positive for hepatitis C antibody and negative for hepatitis C virus RNA, it means that the body has cleared the virus or the virus titer is low and no special antiviral treatment is needed, as long as regular follow-up is observed. Ultrasound examination can help to exclude other diseases such as hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. Individual patients need to undergo liver pathology only to clarify the extent of liver lesions. Hepatitis C is so dangerous, yet many people and even patients are unaware of it. This is because the symptoms of hepatitis C are not obvious, the test is rarely included in job entry, schooling and daily physical examinations, and there is no vaccination for it. Currently, the only way to keep hepatitis C under control is through early detection and treatment through screening.