What
is hepatitis
C? |
Hepatitis C
is a disease of the liver that is caused by
the hepatitis C virus, or HCV.
Between 15 to 40 percent of people who get
hepatitis C are able to fight off the virus
during the early, or acute, stage, usually
within six months. Between 60 and 85 percent
of patients cannot get rid of the virus and
develop a long-term, or chronic, hepatitis
C infection. People with chronic hepatitis
C will have the disease all their lives unless
they are successfully treated with antiviral
medicines.
Chronic hepatitis C is a serious condition
that damages the liver and can lead to potentially
fatal liver diseases such as cirrhosis, liver
failure and liver cancer. One of the most
common reasons for liver transplants is damage
caused by hepatitis C infection.
More than four million Americans have been
infected with hepatitis C; it is responsible
for 8,000-10,000 deaths annually. |
|
What
are the symptoms of hepatitis C? |
Most people
with both acute and chronic hepatitis C have
no symptoms from the disease. This is why
hepatitis C may persist for years or even
decades before it is discovered. When symptoms
do occur, they may include fatigue, joint
pain, itchy skin, muscle soreness, stomach
pain and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin
and whites of the eyes). |
|
What
causes hepatitis C? |
You can
get hepatitis C if your blood comes into
contact with blood from someone who already
has the virus. The most common cause of
transmission is the sharing of needles and
other equipment used to inject illegal drugs.
Less common causes of transmission include:
- Sharing a razor, toothbrush or nail
clipper with an infected person
- Accidental exposure to infected blood
among health care or public safety workers
- Exposure to unclean tattooing or body-piercing
instruments
- Unprotected anal sex or exposure to
multiple sex partners
In rare cases, hepatitis C can be spread
from an infected mother to her child at
birth. It cannot be spread by breast-feeding.
Before 1992 there was a risk of getting
hepatitis C from blood transfusions. Now
all donated blood is tested for HCV so there
is almost no risk of getting the disease
from blood transfusions. |
|
How
is hepatitis C diagnosed? |
Hepatitis C
is diagnosed by a blood test. However, blood
tests conducted in routine physicals do not
include tests for hepatitis C. This is why
most people with hepatitis C don't know they
have the disease, especially since there may
be no symptoms.
Some people discover that they have hepatitis
C when they donate blood, because all donated
blood is tested for HCV.
Others learn they have hepatitis C when they
undergo blood tests for other medical problems.
If the blood tests show persistently abnormal
liver enzymes—a sign of liver damage-additional
tests will be conducted to find the cause.
These additional tests may reveal the HCV
infection.
In patients with hepatitis C, a liver biopsy,
in which a sample of liver tissue is removed
and studied in a lab, may be necessary to
determine how badly the liver has been damaged
by the virus. |
|
How
is hepatitis C treated? Are there side effects
from treatment? |
If you have
hepatitis C, the goal of treatment is to try
and get rid of the virus in your body. If
the virus is cleared, that can limit the damage
done to your liver.
Your doctor will talk to you about starting
treatment with antiviral medicines that may
help get rid of the virus. The standard medicines
for hepatitis C patients are called peginterferons
and interferons. These drugs work for some,
but not all, patients. Depending on the type
of hepatitis C virus that you have, the treatment
has a 40% to 80% chance of getting rid of
the virus. These drugs have some potentially
serious side effects. Most people being treated
with interferon have flu-like symptoms early
on. These side effects get better with time.
Later side effects, however, may include tiredness,
hair loss, low blood count, trouble with thinking,
moodiness, and depression. Ribavirin can cause
serious anemia, or low red blood cell count.
In some patients, the side effects may be
so serious that treatment must be stopped.
Pregnant women should not be treated with
these drugs at all.
It is important to discuss the pros and cons
of hepatitis C treatment thoroughly with your
doctor before you begin treatment. You should
also tell your doctor about any side effects
you experience during treatment. |
|
If
I have chronic hepatitis C, what can I do
to help keep myself and others healthy? |
With proper
management, many hepatitis C patients can
lead full and active lives. If you are infected
with hepatitis C, you should:
- Be under the care of a doctor who specializes
in the liver.
- Stay on any prescribed medications and
keep all your medical appointments.
- Get the hepatitis A and B vaccinations
to protect you from another liver infection.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating
nutritious meals, getting exercise, resting
when you feel tired and avoiding alcohol
and illegal drugs.
- Use only drugs and supplements that
your doctor has approved.
- Consider joining a hepatitis C support
group, either in your community or online.
Your local American Liver Foundation chapter
may be able to refer you a support group
in your area.
- Avoid spreading your blood to others.
Don’t share razors, toothbrushes
or nail clippers.
|
|
Who
is at risk for hepatitis C? |
Anyone who
was exposed to the blood of an infected
person is at risk of having hepatitis C.
You should talk to a doctor about getting
tested for the disease if you:
- Ever used illegal intravenous drugs
or cocaine
- Received a blood transfusion or organ
transplant prior to 1992, or a clotting
factor made before 1987
- Received long-term hemodialysis
- Have persistently abnormal liver enzyme
levels
- Are a health care, emergency medical
and public safety worker exposed to needle
sticks or other sources of HCV-positive
blood
- Were born to an HCV-infected mother
- Have had unprotected sex with multiple
partners or have a history of sexually
transmitted disease
- Received tattoos or body piercings with
unsterile needles, especially in an unregulated
setting
- Have household exposure, through the
sharing of razors, tooth-brushes or other
personal items with an HCV-infected person
|
|
What
is the best way to prevent hepatitis C? |
There is
no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, so the
only way to avoid the disease is to avoid
exposure to infected blood. Infection can
be avoided by:
- Not sharing needles for illegal drugs
- Always using recommended safety precautions
if you are exposed to blood at your job
- Not engaging in risky sexual practices
with people who may have hepatitis C
- Not sharing personal hygiene items with
infected household members or others
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