Hepatitis C

What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The hepatitis C virus causes inflammation of the liver. If the inflammation is not reversed, it becomes chronic (ongoing, long term) and can cause chronic liver disease, which can be serious or even fatal. HCV infection sometimes results in an acute illness, but most often, it does become a chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. In fact, at least 75% of people infected with hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis C.

What are Symptoms?
Although hepatitis C does severe damage the liver, 80% of people with the disease have no signs or symptoms. In those who do, symptoms may not appear for 10-20 years. Even then, the symptoms usually come and go and are mild and vague. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the damage may be very serious. Some infected people have flu-like symptoms during the early acute phase of the infection. These symptoms typically develop 5-12 weeks after exposure to HCV. The following are signs and symptoms of chronic hepatitis C infection.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale-colored stool
• Pain over the liver (on the right side of the abdomen, just under the rib cage)
• Jaundice- A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow

How is hepatitis C transmitted?
The hepatitis C virus is spread through contact with infected blood. Common routes of infection include sharing needles for drug injection, blood transfusions before 1992, sexual activity, needle stick accidents among healthcare workers, and any other blood-to-blood contact. Also, indirect sources contaminated with infected blood, such as razors, are capable of carrying and transmitting the virus.

Testing
The Hepatitis C Virus Antibody test is a blood test that looks for antibodies of the virus that causes hepatitis C. This test cannot tell the difference between an acute or chronic infection. The earliest this test should be taken is 6 weeks after a possible exposure.

Treatment
Although there is no cure for the virus, there are several treatment options. Treatment is not always necessary upon diagnosis of hepatitis c. If you have only slight liver abnormalities, you may not need treatment because your risk of future liver problems is very low. If treatment is needed, there are a few antiviral medications that your doctor may recommend. In severe cases, a liver transplant may be an option.