By Steph Johnson

Last updated 14:24, Thursday, 03 July 2008

The number of teenagers being sent out of county to be treated for Hepatitis B and C has more than quadrupled over the last year.

Drugs: Shared needles are one way in which hepatitis can be passed on. Unprotected sex is also behind the increase in cases

The region’s Health Protection Unit was notified about nine North Cumbrian youngsters who tested positive for the liver diseases, a rise of seven on 2006.

They need to be monitored at specialist clinics in London, Birmingham and Leeds because of their age.

But the actual number of teenagers who have to get help away from home is likely to be higher.

The clinics do not directly report to the HPU and its data only reflects information passed on from GPs.

Hepatitis B and C are both transmitted through blood, sufferers can end up with liver failure and cancer in the most serious cases.

The most likely way to catch the viruses is through shared needles or medical and dental treatment in countries where procedures are not up to UK standards. Those who had blood transfusions before screening was introduced in 1991 are also vulnerable because it can take years for symptoms to appear.

Having unprotected sex puts people at high risk for Hepatitis B as it is also passed on through bodily fluids and is more infectious than HIV.

Since 2005, there has been a 28 per cent increase in Hepatitis C diagnosis for adults in north Cumbria, from 70 new cases a year to 90.

In south Cumbria there were no new cases reported in 2005 and just one in 2007. Lead hepatology nurse Ruth Harrison says this is because the specialised hepatitis programme only serves north Cumbria and therefore the data for the south is not as comprehensive.

The Hepatitis C Trust says four out of five carriers are unaware they have the illness, meaning there are hundreds in north Cumbria risking the deterioration of their health and of those they unwittingly infect.

Especially since the rise is not thought to be due to an increase in the number of people being tested.

Ms Harrison began running hepatitis clinics at Cumbria Infirmary in 2003 and over the last five years she has noticed a particularly worrying trend emerge.

The numbers of women who contract Hepatitis C through sex has gone up, even though it not considered to be a high risk area for this strain of the disease.

Although there are fewer people with Hepatitis B than C, the figures still give cause for concern.

Ms Harrison has less than 50 cases on her books, but this is three times as many Hepatitis B patients as she was seeing 18 months ago.

Again only the north of the county has a recorded increase.

The symptoms of Hepatitis B are vague and can be confused with a flu like illness.

Ms Harrison wants those susceptible to get tested if they are in doubt about the cause of any ill health they are suffering.

She is also calling for more resources for hepatitis services and improved support from employers when their staff need to take time off for treatment.