No one wants to get stuck by a needle, especially on accident. That’s one reason to throw them away properly. Another big reason to properly throw them away is because some diseases can be spread through used needles.

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These diseases can cause serious health problems like a weakened immune system and liver damage.

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Some of these diseases are:

· Hepatitis B

       Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. It can range in          severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong infection                      potentially resulting in cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure and           death. Hepatitis B can also be past from an infected mother to her unborn child.

       

· Hepatitis C

       Hepatitis C is a virus that uses liver cells to reproduce. As the body’s immune system            works to defend against this virus, inflammation, injury, and ultimately scarring of            the liver may occur. The hepatitis C virus is found in the blood of persons who have            this disease. Hepatitis C is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.

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· HIV

      Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that can lead to acquired                           immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body             cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.

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