Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Hepatitis C is a virus responsible for irritating and damaging the liver. When tissue in the body becomes injured or diseased, it can cause swelling, known as inflammation. Inflammation can damage organs.

Infectious agents known as viruses infiltrate healthy cells in your body. Infections caused by numerous viruses can be passed on from one individual to another. The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted through coming into contact with the blood of someone who has the virus.

Hepatitis C can cause an acute or chronic infection.

No vaccine exists yet to combat hepatitis C, but you can take precautions to avoid contracting the virus. Discuss with your physician the options of care if you have hepatitis C. Medicines can cure most cases of hepatitis C.

Acute hepatitis C

Acute hepatitis C is a short-term infection. Symptoms can last up to 6 months. Occasionally, your body is able to combat the sickness and the virus subsides.

Chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C is a long-lasting infection. The body’s inability to resist the virus is what causes chronic hepatitis C. Roughly three-quarters to four-fifths of individuals who contract acute hepatitis C will go on to develop chronic hepatitis C.

Getting the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C as soon as possible can stop the liver from being damaged. Without medical attention, chronic HCV can lead to long-term liver damage, cirrhosis, an incapacity of the liver, or liver tumors.

How serious is chronic hepatitis C?

Persistent hepatitis C is a grave condition that has lasting consequences for one’s health, including potential destruction of the liver, liver collapse, cirrhosis, cancer of the liver, and in extreme cases, death. The leading cause of liver transplants in the US is this. It is said that the number of fatalities due to hepatitis C virus which was taped to be 15,713 in 2018 as reported to the CDC is likely to be underestimated.

What is the difference between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C?

All three forms of hepatitis are liver diseases that are triggered by different types of viruses. Although both can lead to similar signs and symptoms, the way they are transmitted is dissimilar and they can have disparate effects on the liver. Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection. Hepatitis B and C can be acute in the beginning, yet some individuals have the virus linger in their body, leading to prolonged contamination. No vaccine exists to protect against hepatitis C, whereas vaccines can be used to protect against hepatitis A and B.

How common is hepatitis C in the United States?

In the US, the most frequent long-term viral ailment identified in blood is hepatitis C, which is passed on through contact with blood.14

Based on estimates by scientists, the population of those in the United States dealing with chronic hepatitis C ranges from 2.7 million to 3.9 million. Numerous individuals affected by the virus show no outward indicators, and remain unaware of their affliction.

The amount of recent diagnoses for hepatitis C has grown since 2006, particularly with persons below the age of 30 who have a fondness for injecting heroin, opioids that have been improperly taken and refined, or opioids that have been wrongly administered.

Screening procedures that are up-to-date and treatments for hepatitis C that are more efficacious are enabling medical professionals to diagnose and cure an increased number of individuals suffering from the disease. Through increased testing and medical care, the likelihood of hepatitis C becoming widespread could be reduced in the future. It is believed that by 2036, hepatitis C may become an uncommon ailment in the United States.

Who is more likely to get hepatitis C?

Those at an increased risk of contracting hepatitis C are those who

have injected drugs
had a blood transfusion NIH external link or organ transplant before July 1992
have hemophilia NIH external link and received clotting factor before 1987
have been on kidney dialysis
have been in contact with blood or infected needles at work
have had tattoos or body piercings
have worked or lived in a prison
were born to a mother with hepatitis C
are infected with HIV NIH external link
have had more than one sex partner in the last 6 months or have a history of sexually transmitted disease NIH external link
are men who have or had sex with men

Hepatitis C is most commonly contracted in the U.S. through intravenous drug use.13

Should I be screened for hepatitis C?

Medical professionals typically suggest that all adults from the ages of 18 to 79 should be tested for hepatitis C at least once. Testing for a disease in individuals who do not display signs or symptoms is known as screening. Doctors use blood tests to screen for hepatitis C. Lots of individuals who contract hepatitis C don’t have any clues that they have the illness and are unaware of their condition. Tests that involve analyzing samples can assist physicians in recognizing and treating hepatitis C before major health problems arise.

What are the complications of hepatitis C?

If it goes untreated, hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, the destruction of the liver, and liver cancer. Getting hepatitis C identified and treated quickly can help avoid undesirable outcomes.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a state in which the liver deteriorates at a gradual rate, leading to an inability to perform its expected functions. Scarring of the liver can result in tissue replacement with unhealthy tissue and impede the flow of blood through the organ. At the beginning of cirrhosis, the liver is still operating properly. As cirrhosis advances, the liver starts to cease functioning properly.

Liver failure

Also referred to as advanced liver disease, the deterioration of the liver over an extended period of time, ranging from months to years or decades, is known as liver failure. At the final stage of liver disease, the organ is no longer able to execute essential tasks or replace broken cells.

Liver cancer

Someone who suffers from chronic hepatitis C is more likely to develop liver cancer. If your hepatitis C condition has already resulted in severe liver harm or cirrhosis before you start your treatment, you will still have a heightened likelihood of developing liver cancer even after the treatment. Your physician may propose taking blood tests and utilizing a sonogram or another sort of imaging examination to diagnose the possibilities of liver cancer. Detecting cancer in its early phases improves the prospects of successfully treating it.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?

Most people infected with hepatitis C have no symptoms. Certain individuals who were recently infected with hepatitis C may start displaying signs within a span of one to three months after they were exposed to the virus. These symptoms may include

dark yellow urine
feeling tired
fever
gray- or clay-colored stools
joint pain
loss of appetite
nausea
pain in your abdomen
vomiting
yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice

Chronic hepatitis C often does not cause any signs and symptoms until long after the initial infection, when secondary medical issues begin to arise. It is vital to get tested for hepatitis C, even if you are not experiencing any signs.

What causes hepatitis C?

The hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C. An individual can become infected with the hepatitis C virus if they come into contact with the blood of a person who has the virus. Contact can occur by

sharing drug needles or other drug materials with an infected person
getting an accidental stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
being tattooed or pierced with tools or inks that were not kept sterile—free from all viruses and other microorganisms—and were used on an infected person before they were used on you
having contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
using an infected person’s razor, toothbrush, or nail clippers
being born to a mother with hepatitis C
having unprotected sex with an infected person

You can’t get hepatitis C from

being coughed or sneezed on by an infected person
drinking water or eating food
hugging an infected person
shaking hands or holding hands with an infected person
sharing spoons, forks, and other eating utensils
sitting next to an infected person

A baby can’t get hepatitis C from breast milk.

Transmission / Exposure

How is hepatitis C spread?

Coming into contact with the blood of an individual who has hepatitis C is the most common way of catching the virus. This can happen through:

?Sharing drug-injection equipment.

The majority of individuals are now getting hepatitis C due to the utilization of shared needles, syringes, or any other gear used in the process of making and injecting drugs.

?Birth.

Roughly 6 out of every 100 babies born to moms with hepatitis C will get the virus.

?Health care exposures.

Though not a widespread occurrence, individuals might acquire infections if medical personnel do not exercise the precautionary steps necessary to stop the transmission of bloodborne diseases.

?Sex with an infected person.

Though not frequent, the transmission of hepatitis C during sexual activities has been observed mainly in men engaging in sexual relations with those of the same gender.

?Unregulated tattoos or body piercings.

Hepatitis C can be contracted by getting tattoos or body piercings in places that are not regulated, in an informal environment, or with people that aren’t trained.

non-sterile instruments.

?Sharing personal items.

There is a risk of getting infected when using things like glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes and other items that have come into contact with sickness-carrying blood, even if the amount of blood is not visible.

?Blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Prior to 1992, when the blood supply began to be extensively tested, hepatitis C was spread through the transfusion and transplant of blood and organs. The probability of someone getting infection through receiving blood or blood products is minimal.

Hepatitis C cannot be contracted through the use of shared dishes, breastfeeding, embracing, smooching, clasping hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

Treatment

What is the treatment for hepatitis C?

It is advised that everyone should receive treatment, even non-pregnant women, if they are suffering from either acute or chronic hepatitis C. This includes children aged three and above and adolescents as well. Most existing treatments consist of an 8 to 12 week course of oral medications and have a success rate of more than 90% with few side effects. The Food and Drug Administration maintains a registry of therapies currently endorsed by them for the treatment of hepatitis C.

What can people with chronic hepatitis C do to protect the liver?

Those who have been afflicted with chronic hepatitis C as well as individuals with cirrhosis (even if their hepatitis C infection has been eliminated) should keep up with appointments to see their physician as they remain in danger of having continuing concerns related to extreme liver sickness such as liver cancer. In addition, people living with hepatitis C should

be vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B
avoid alcohol because it can cause additional damage to the liver
check with their doctor before taking any prescription pills, herbs, supplements, or over-the-counter medications, as these can potentially damage the liver
be tested for HIV, because people who have both infections are more likely to get cirrhosis

How likely is it that someone with acute hepatitis C will become chronically infected?

More than 50% of individuals infected with hepatitis C virus will experience a long-term infection.

Is it possible for someone with hepatitis C to get better without treatment

Yes. Out of those people infected with the hepatitis C virus, less than half of them will be able to get rid of it without any type of therapeutic intervention. This is something that has yet to be completely explained by professionals.

Should anyone be tested for hepatitis C more than once?

Yes. It is advised for those who inject drugs and use common equipment as well as those undergoing hemodialysis to undergo regular examinations.

If I am pregnant, should I be tested for hepatitis C?

Yes, hepatitis C testing is recommended during every pregnancy.

What tests are used to diagnose someone with hepatitis C?

An HCV antibody test is performed via a blood sample to determine if a person has had previous exposure to hepatitis C virus. This assessment, also labeled the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies, which are proteins discharged into the bloodstream when someone acquires the HCV virus. Individuals with positive Hepatitis C Virus antibody tests are given further testing to determine if an active infection is present.

When should I expect to get my test results?

The period of time between taking a test and receiving the results can range from a few days to a few weeks. Some health clinics offer fast HCV tests which give the outcome in a span of 20 to 30 minutes.

How are hepatitis C test results interpreted?

Your physician will assist you in understanding the outcomes of your hepatitis C virus antibody exam and provide you with direction on what to do next. The test results may indicate that you are not infected with the hepatitis C virus, which can be classified as “non-reactive” or “negative.” The examination can also turn out to be an indicator of past infection, suggesting you have had the hepatitis C virus in the past. It is important to know that

Once you have been infected, you will always have antibodies in your blood. This is true if you have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in your blood.
A reactive, or positive, antibody test does not necessarily mean that you currently have hepatitis C, so a follow-up test is needed.