Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus that infects the liver which eventually can lead to permanent liver damage as well as cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Many people are infected for years and do not realize they have hepatitis C. Many will already have some liver damage by the time diagnosis occurs. Some people who get hepatitis C have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis C. But most people who are infected will go on to develop long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C.

Although hepatitis C can be very serious, most people can manage the disease and lead active, full lives.

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is spread by contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. The most common form of transmission is by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject illegal drugs.

Other methods of transmission include blood transfusion or organ transplant performed before 1992, tattoos or piercing when needles are not cleaned properly, and shots given in developing countries where it is common practice to reuse needles. In rare cases, a mother with hepatitis C can pass the virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to blood that is infected with hepatitis C.

There is a risk of getting the virus through sexual contact but it is very small. The risk is higher if your sex partner has hepatitis C or if you have many sex partners.

You cannot get hepatitis C from casual contact such as hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing food or drink.

Most people have no symptoms when they are first infected with the hepatitis C virus. If you do develop symptoms, they may include:

• Abdominal Pain
• Dark Urine
• Fatigue
• Itchy Skin
• Headache
• Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) along with dark urine
• Joint Pain
• Muscle Soreness

Most people will develop chronic hepatitis C but still do not have symptoms. This makes it common for people to have hepatitis C for 15 years or longer before it is diagnosed.

Diagnosing hepatitis C is often by accident. Many patients find out when their blood is tested before a blood donation or as part of a routine checkup. Hepatitis C infected patients will often have high levels of liver enzymes in their blood.

If your doctor thinks you may have hepatitis C, he or she will talk to you about having a blood test. If the test shows hepatitis C antibodies, you have had hepatitis C at some point. A second test can tell if you have hepatitis C now.

Hepatitis C can be detected by a blood test. If you are diagnosed with hepatitis C you may need a liver biopsy to assess the damage to your liver.

There are several treatment options for hepatitis C including some newer and more effective treatments that are now available. You and your doctor will need to work together to decide if you should take antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C. It may not be right for everyone. If your liver damage is mild, you may not require treatment.

The effectiveness of these treatments depends on the extent of the liver damage, how much virus you have in your liver, and what type of hepatitis C you have.

Some people with hepatitis C do not notice a change in the way they feel. Others feel fatigued, ill or depressed. You may feel better if you exercise and eat healthy foods. To help prevent further liver damage, avoid alcohol and illegal drugs. You may also need to check with your physician about certain medications (ex. Tylenol) and herbs that should be avoided.