It may also be possible to get it from ordinary household contacts like razors and toothbrushes shared with someone who has the virus. In a small percentage of cases, Hepatitis C is transmitted through sexual contact, although not a lot is known about how this happens. The risk of getting Hepatitis C from blood products is much less today since all blood products are now screened. Others only discover they're infected years later when they get sick and testing confirms they have the virus. Unfortunately, Hepatitis often goes undiagnosed because symptoms are mild or suggest only a flu-like illness.
Many people have no symptoms at all.
The only way to know for sure if you have Hepatitis is to have a blood test. Ask a doctor or needle exchange where you can have this done. Right IDU Safety Manual for a complete discussion of safer injection methods. You can get new syringes in exchange for used ones at needle exchange programs -or pharmacies, in some states. Needle exchanges and other harm reduction programs can also provide you with cotton, alcohol swabs, and clean water.