What is hepatitis C caused by? Discover the causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options for this liver disease. Learn how to prevent and manage hepatitis C infection.

Understanding Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can lead to serious liver damage if left untreated. The disease can progress through different stages, from an acute infection to a chronic condition, and in some cases, may result in cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Causes of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids. The most common ways the virus can be contracted include:

• Sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs – This is the most common way hepatitis C is transmitted in the United States.
• Receiving contaminated blood transfusions or organ transplants – Before widespread screening of the blood supply was implemented in 1992, this was a common mode of transmission.
• Needlestick injuries in healthcare settings – Healthcare workers can be exposed to the virus through accidental needle pricks or exposure to infected blood.
• Unprotected sex, especially with someone who has HIV or another sexually transmitted infection – The risk of transmission through sexual contact is generally low, but it is possible.
• Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or childbirth – The risk of transmission from an infected mother to her child is around 4-8%.

Hepatitis C Symptoms

Many people with hepatitis C do not experience any symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Dark urine
• Itchy skin

Risk Factors for Hepatitis C

Certain factors can increase the risk of contracting hepatitis C, such as:

1. Intravenous drug use, including sharing needles or other equipment
2. Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992, when widespread screening for the virus was implemented
3. Exposure to infected blood in healthcare settings, such as through needlestick injuries
4. Having multiple sexual partners or engaging in unprotected sex, especially with someone who has HIV or another sexually transmitted infection
5. Being born to a mother with hepatitis C
6. Having HIV or a weakened immune system
7. Undergoing long-term dialysis treatment

Diagnosis and Testing for Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is typically diagnosed through a blood test that detects the presence of the hepatitis C virus or antibodies to the virus. The CDC recommends that all adults aged 18 and older be tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime, and that certain high-risk individuals be tested more frequently.

Treatment and Management of Hepatitis C

Advancements in antiviral medications have made hepatitis C a curable disease for many patients. Treatment typically involves a course of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, which can effectively eliminate the virus in most cases. However, treatment may be more challenging for individuals with advanced liver disease or other underlying health conditions. Regular monitoring and follow-up care are essential for managing hepatitis C and preventing complications.

Preventing Hepatitis C

To prevent the transmission of hepatitis C, it is important to:

• Avoid sharing needles or other equipment for injecting drugs
• Practice safe sex and use condoms to reduce the risk of transmission
• Avoid sharing personal care items, such as razors or toothbrushes, that may be contaminated with infected blood
• Get tested for hepatitis C, especially if you have any of the risk factors
• Seek prompt treatment if diagnosed with hepatitis C to prevent further liver damage and reduce the risk of transmission to others

By understanding the causes, symptoms, and risk factors of hepatitis C, individuals can take the necessary steps to protect themselves and seek appropriate medical care if infected. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for managing this potentially serious liver disease.

Hepatitis C – What Is Hep C? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is Hepatitis C?
• Stages of Hepatitis C
• What Are the Symptoms of Hepatitis C?
• How Do You Get Hepatitis C?
• Symptoms of Advanced Hepatitis C
• Hepatitis C Risk Factors
• Hepatitis C Testing and Diagnosis
• Treatment and Medication for Hepatitis C
• What Are the Side Effects of Hepatitis C Medications?
• What Are the Complications of Hepatitis C?
• Questions for Your Doctor
• Can You Prevent Hepatitis C Infection?
• Is Hepatitis C Curable?
• What’s Your Outlook?
• More

Hepatitis C is a liver infection that can lead to serious liver damage. It’s caused by the hepatitis C virus. About 2.4 million people in the U.S. have the disease. But it causes few symptoms, so most of them don’t know. The virus spreads through an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

The most common type of the hepatitis C virus in the U.S. is type 1. They respond differently to treatment.

The hepatitis C virus affects people in different ways and has several stages:

• Incubation period. This is the time between first exposure to the start of the disease. It can last anywhere from 14 to 80 days, but the average is 45.
• Acute hepatitis C. This is a short-term illness that lasts for the first 6 months after the virus enters your body. After that, some people who have it will get rid of, or clear, the virus on their own.
• Chronic hepatitis C. For most people who get hepatitis C – up to 85% – the illness moves into a long-lasting stage (longer than 6 months). This is called a chronic hepatitis C infection and can lead to serious health problems like liver cancer or cirrhosis.
• Cirrhosis. This disease leads to inflammation that, over time, replaces your healthy liver cells with scar tissue. It usually takes about 20 to 30 years for this to happen, though it can be faster if you drink alcohol or have HIV.
• Liver cancer. Cirrhosis makes liver cancer more likely. Your doctor will make sure you get regular tests because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages.

Learn more about the stages and progression of hepatitis C.

Many people with hepatitis C have no symptoms. But between 2 weeks and 6 months after the virus enters your bloodstream, you could notice:

• Clay-colored poop
• Dark urine
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Jaundice (a condition that causes yellow eyes and skin, as well as dark urine)
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

Symptoms usually last for 2 to 12 weeks. Read more on the symptoms and early warning signs of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C spreads when blood or body fluids contaminated with the hepatitis C virus get into your bloodstream through contact with an infected person.

You can be exposed to the virus from:

• Sharing injection drugs and needles
• Having sex, especially if you have HIV, another STD, several partners, or have rough sex
• Being stuck by infected needles
• Birth – a mother can pass it to a child
• Sharing personal care items like toothbrushes, razor blades, and nail clippers
• Getting a tattoo or piercing with unclean equipment

You can’t catch hepatitis C through:

• Breastfeeding (unless nipples are cracked and bleeding)
• Casual contact
• Coughing
• Hugging
• Holding hands
• Kissing
• Mosquito bites
• Sharing eating utensils
• Sharing food or drink
• Sneezing

Get more information on how hepatitis C is spread.

If you have “end-stage” hepatitis C, you’ve had it for a long time and the virus has seriously damaged the liver. You could notice symptoms along with:

• Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity (ascites) or the legs (edema)
• Gallstones
• Your brain doesn’t work as well (encephalopathy)
• Kidney failure
• Easy bleeding and bruising
• Intense itching
• Muscle loss
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Spider-like veins on the skin
• Vomiting blood due to bleeding in the lower esophagus (esophageal varices)
• Weight loss

The CDC recommends you get tested for the disease if you:

• Are 18 years of age and older (Get tested at least once in your lifetime. )
• Are pregnant (Get tested during each pregnancy.)
• Received blood from a donor who had the disease
• Currently inject drugs (Get tested regularly.)
• Have ever injected or inhaled drugs (You should be tested regularly if you’re still using drugs.)
• Had a blood transfusion or an organ transplant before July 1992
• Received a blood product used to treat clotting problems before 1987
• Have been exposed to blood from a person who has hepatitis C
• Have been on long-term kidney dialysis
• Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
• Have HIV
• Were born to a mother with hepatitis C

Since July 1992, all blood and organ donations in the U.S. are tested for the hepatitis C virus. The CDC says it is now rare that someone getting blood products or an organ would get hepatitis C. That said, the CDC recommends that anyone over the age of 18 get tested for Hepatitis C. If you haven’t been screened, you should consider having it done.

Learn more about the risk factors for hepatitis C.

Doctors will start by checking your blood for:

Anti-HCV antibodies: These are proteins your body makes when it finds the hep C virus in your blood. They usually show up about 12 weeks after infection.

It usually takes a few days to a week to get results, though a rapid test is available in some places.

The results can be:

• Nonreactive, or negative:
  • That may mean you don’t have hep C.
  • If you’ve been exposed in the last 6 months, you’ll need to be retested.
• Reactive, or positive:
  • That means you have hep C antibodies and you’ve been infected at some point.
  • You’ll need another test to make sure.

If your antibody test is positive, you’ll get this test:

HCV RNA: It measures the number of viral RNA (genetic material from the hepatitis virus) particles in your blood. They usually show up 1-2 weeks after you’re infected.

• The results can be:
  • Negative: You don’t have hep C.
  • Positive: You currently have hep C.

You might also get:

Liver function tests: They measure proteins and enzyme levels, which usually rise 7 to 8 weeks after you’re infected. As your liver gets damaged, enzymes leak into your bloodstream. But you can have normal enzyme levels and still have hepatitis C. Learn the reasons why you should get tested for hepatitis C.

If you have acute hepatitis C, there is no recommended treatment. If your hepatitis C turns into a chronic hepatitis C infection, there are several medications available.

Interferon, peginterferon, and ribavirin used to be the main treatments for hepatitis C. They can have side effects like fatigue, flu-like symptoms, anemia, skin rash, mild anxiety, depression, nausea, and diarrhea.

Now you’re more likely to get one of these medications:

• Elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier). This once-daily pill has cured the disease in as many as 97% of those treated.
• Glecaprevir-pibrentasvir (Mavyret). This daily pill offers a shorter treatment cycle of 8 weeks for adult patients with all types of HCV who don’t have cirrhosis and who haven’t already been treated. The treatment is longer for those who are in a different disease stage. The prescribed dosage for this medicine is three tablets daily.
• Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni). This once-daily pill cures the disease in most people in 8-12 weeks.
• Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) with elbasvir/grazoprevir. Take this tablet at the same time every day with food. You have to take it along with ribavirin and/or interferon, and you’ll probably be on it for 12 to 24 weeks.
• Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (Epclusa). This daily pill, which you typically take for 12 weeks, should cure your disease.
• Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir (Vosevi). This combination is approved to treat adults with chronic HCV, either with no cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (the stage of the disease that doesn’t have symptoms), who’ve already had certain treatments.

Find out more on treatment options for hepatitis C.

The most common side effects of hepatitis C drugs depend on the medicine and may include:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Rash
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Increased liver enzyme tests
• Trouble thinking
• Nervousness
• Depression

Learn about the side effects of hepatitis C treatment and what to expect.

About 75% to 85% of people who have it get a long-term infection called chronic hepatitis C. If the condition goes untreated, it can lead to:

• Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver
• Liver cancer
• Liver failure

Read more on complications of hepatitis C.

When you visit the doctor, you may want to ask questions to get the information you need to manage your hepatitis C. If you can, have a family member or friend take notes. You might ask:

1. What kinds of tests will I need?
2. Are there any medications that might help?
3. What are the side effects of the medications you might prescribe?
4. How do I know when I should call the doctor?
5. How much exercise can I get, and is it all right to have sex?
6. Which drugs should I avoid?
7. What can I do to prevent the disease from getting worse?
8. How can I avoid spreading hepatitis C to others?
9. Are my family members at risk for hepatitis C?
10. Should I be vaccinated against other types of hepatitis?
11. How will you keep tabs on the condition of my liver?

There’s no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. To avoid getting the virus:

• Use a latex condom every time you have sex.
• Don’t share personal items like razors.
• Don’t share needles, syringes, or other equipment when injecting drugs.
• Be careful if you get a tattoo, body piercing, or manicure. The equipment may have someone else’s blood on it.

Find out more on how to prevent hepatitis C.

Yes, hepatitis C can be cured in most people by medication. (See the section on “Treatment and Medication for Hepatitis C” in this article.) 

These medications, which doctors call “direct-acting antivirals” (DAAs), work in different ways to stop hepatitis C from making copies of itself. These drugs have very few side effects and have brought the cure rate up to at least 95%. They work in as little as 8 or 12 weeks. By comparison, the old standard of care, interferon shots and ribavirin alone, could take as long as a year, cured only about half of the people who took it, and the side effects were much harder. Today’s therapies are pills and don’t need interferon.

You and your doctor will figure out the best therapy and how long you’ll need to take it based a few things. These include:

• Your genotype
• The condition of your liver
• Other health problems you may have

Your doctor will monitor you and test your blood to see if the virus is gone. About 12 weeks after treatment ends, you’ll be retested to see if it’s still undetectable. If it is, that’s called sustained virologic response – a cure. Nearly all people will stay virus-free for the rest of their lives. If you’re not cured, your doctor may suggest trying again or waiting for new drugs to come out.
 

Today, the outlook for most people with hepatitis C who are treated is good. With new treatments, the viral cure rate is above 90%. The goal of antiviral medications is a condition called sustained virologic response. The hepatitis virus is considered to be “cured” if no virus shows up in a blood test that is done 3 months after your treatment ends.

After treatment, make sure you stick with the healthy habits your doctor has instructed and follow up with them regularly. People in whom the virus has not been successfully treated may go on to get cirrhosis and liver disease and may need a liver transplant.

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Symptoms, causes, is it curable, and contagiousness

Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Early diagnosis can prevent liver damage, but it can be fatal without treatment. It can spread through contaminated needles or blood.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes hepatitis C. It invades liver cells, causing inflammation, swelling, dysfunction, and eventual organ damage.

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the United States, with around 2.4 million people living with the disease. However, many people with the infection do not know that they have it.

A person can transmit the virus to someone else through blood-to-blood contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most new cases of hepatitis C occur from contact with used needles or other equipment that people use to prepare or inject drugs. This is often from sharing needles or accidental contact in healthcare settings.

Hepatitis C infections can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-lasting). When a person has acute hepatitis, symptoms can last for 6 months. However, in more than 50% of cases, an acute infection becomes chronic, meaning the body cannot clear the virus.

New medications can cure chronic hepatitis C, and some researchers believe the infection could become rare in the U. S. by the year 2036. Although there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, people can take steps to reduce their risk of infection.

This article provides an overview of acute and chronic hepatitis C, including their symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe and chronic health condition.

People can have hepatitis C with no symptoms, especially at the acute stage, and may not know they have it. This makes it easier to transmit to others.

Acute hepatitis C

Most people with acute hepatitis C do not develop symptoms. If they do, symptoms usually arise between 2 and 12 weeks after exposure.

People rarely receive a diagnosis of acute hepatitis C as it lacks definitive symptoms. Because of this, doctors often call hepatitis C the silent epidemic.

The acute symptoms are very similar to other viral infections. Symptoms of acute hepatitis C include:

• a fever
• fatigue
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting
• dark urine
• clay-colored stool
• joint pain
• jaundice, rarely

According to the CDC, almost half of people with acute hepatitis C clear the virus from their bodies without treatment and do not develop the chronic condition. Researchers do not know why this happens to some people and not others.

Chronic hepatitis C

Hepatitis C becomes chronic when the body cannot clear the virus. In most cases, chronic hepatitis C does not cause any symptoms or causes general symptoms, such as chronic fatigue or depression. A person may only find out they have the condition during a routine blood test or screening for a blood donation.

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent liver damage. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can lead to:

• chronic liver disease, which can happen slowly over several decades without any symptoms
• cirrhosis, or liver scarring
• liver failure
• liver cancer

HCV causes hepatitis C. People contract the virus through blood-to-blood contact with contaminated blood. For transmission to occur, blood containing HCV must enter the body of a person without HCV.

A speck of blood, invisible to the naked eye, can carry hundreds of hepatitis C virus particles, and the virus is not easy to kill.

The CDC report the following risk factors for developing hepatitis C:

• using or having used injectable drugs, which is currently the most common route in the U.S.
• receiving transfusions or organ transplants before 1992, which is before blood screening became available
• having exposure to a needle stick, which is most common in people who work in healthcare
• being born to a mother who has hepatitis C

The CDC offer advice on cleaning syringes if it is not possible to use clean and sterile ones. Although bleach can kill the HCV in syringes, it may not have the same effect on other equipment. Boiling, burning and using alcohol, peroxide, or other common cleaning fluids to wash equipment can reduce the amount of HCV but might not stop a person from contracting the infection.

It is extremely dangerous to inject bleach, disinfectant, or other cleaning products, so people should make sure they rinse the syringe thoroughly. A person should only ever use bleach to clean equipment if new, sterile syringes and equipment are not available.

A person cannot contract the virus from casual contact, breathing, kissing, or sharing food. There is no evidence that mosquito bites can transfer the virus. The risk is low, but people can also contract hepatitis C by:

• having sexual contact without barrier protection, especially rough or anal sex, which makes blood-to-blood contact more likely
• sharing items that could have contact with blood, such as toothbrushes or razors
• having invasive healthcare procedures, such as injections
• getting a tattoo from an unregulated provider

People who are at risk due to these factors can have screening to rule out HCV.

Yes. Modern treatments can cure hepatitis C in most cases. These treatments involve a combination of antiviral medications taken for 8–24 weeks. However, as many people with HCV do not know they are infected, they may not seek testing and treatment for many years.

Yes, hepatitis C is contagious. Individuals become infected with HCV through blood-to-blood contact with infected blood.

Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure most cases of chronic hepatitis C and acute hepatitis C. These are modern medicines that the authorities approved in 2013. Most people tolerate the medications, with the most common side effects being a headache and fatigue.

These medications work by targeting specific steps in the HCV life cycle to disrupt the reproduction of viral cells.

DAAs to treat hepatitis C include:

• elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier)
• glecaprevir and pibrentasvir (Mavyret)
• ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni)
• peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
• sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)

The choice of medication and duration of treatment depends on the genotype of the virus. Genotype 1a is the most prevalent in the U.S.

Before DAAs became available, the treatment for chronic hepatitis C was lengthy and uncomfortable, with less than ideal cure rates. Today, cure rates are over 90%.

However, new medications can be very costly. Most government and private health insurance prescription drug plans will help provide some coverage for these medications. Some drug companies and other programs can help, too.

Speak with a healthcare professional for advice on paying for hepatitis C treatment.

It is important to note that a person can get hepatitis C more than once. After successful treatment, the person should take steps to prevent another infection.

Doctors can diagnose hepatitis C using blood tests:

• First, the doctor performs a simple blood test to look for hepatitis C antibodies in the blood. A positive test means that the person has had exposure to the virus, but it does not necessarily prove ongoing infection.

• If the antibody test is positive, the person may then have a second blood test called a hepatitis C RNA test. This will check whether the virus is still present in the blood.

• A third blood test — called a genotype test — can determine which type of hepatitis C virus is present.

If the person has had hepatitis C for a long time, a doctor may recommend further tests to look for liver damage, measure the severity of any existing damage, and rule out other causes of damage.

These tests usually involve blood tests and ultrasound scans. Doctors only use a liver biopsy — which involves taking a small sample of liver tissue — when the other tests do not provide enough information.

People can get vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B, but there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. To prevent infection, people must avoid exposure to the virus that causes it.

The best way to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid contaminated blood. Using drug treatments such as methadone or buprenorphine reduces the risk because they do not involve injections.

If a person continues to inject, they can reduce their risk of hepatitis C by using a new needle each time, never sharing needles with another person, and making sure the environment, injection site, and all equipment are clean and sterilized before injecting.

Obesity, smoking, diabetes, and alcohol consumption can accelerate the rate of liver scarring. It is important that all individuals with hepatitis C maintain good health. This involves:

• quitting smoking
• maintaining a healthy weight
• managing other health problems
• avoiding alcohol

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that people who have hepatitis C use the following methods to prevent transmitting it to others:

• avoiding sharing drug needles or other drug materials
• wearing gloves when touching another person’s open sores
• telling any tattooists or piercer about the hepatitis C and making sure they use sterile tools and unopened ink
• avoiding sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail clippers
• telling any new sexual partners about the hepatitis C and using barrier protection during sexual activity

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the U. S. and can cause fatal liver damage if left untreated. In 2016, the CDC reported at least 18,153 deaths related to hepatitis C.

However, with improvements in education, risk-based screening, prevention methods, and modern treatments, the outlook for hepatitis C is better than ever.

Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve a person’s outlook and prevent liver damage. Modern medicines can cure hepatitis C in 90% of cases.

These treatments are expensive. If a person is at risk of exposure to the virus, they should undergo regular screenings to make sure they do not have the virus. Following prevention strategies correctly can usually help a person avoid contracting the virus.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes the liver disease hepatitis C. Hepatitis C infections can be acute and short-term or chronic, meaning the body cannot clear the virus.

People catch the disease through blood-to-blood contact, often by sharing needles while using injectable drugs or accidental needle sticks. Organ transplants and being born to a mother who has hepatitis C are other potential risks of infection.

HCV is a serious condition that causes inflammation of the liver and can lead to organ damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and eventual failure. However, thanks to modern treatments, doctors can cure hepatitis C in most cases.

Read the article in Spanish here.

Hepatitis C, what kind of disease, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

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Content:

Hepatitis C is the most severe form of an infectious disease of viral hepatitis – inflammation of the liver, which can occur in chronic and acute forms. Chronic hepatitis C responds well to treatment with modern medicines, but there are no effective means of preventing the disease.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Symptoms of hepatitis C can only appear when the disease progresses to the stage of cirrhosis of the liver. And if they occur at an early stage, they are completely non-specific and may indicate many other diseases. The incubation period of the disease is 2-26 weeks.

After its expiration, symptoms may appear that are similar to those of colds:

• headache;
• temperature increase;
• joint pain;
• general weakness;
• body aches.

After a few days, the following signs of hepatitis C may appear:

• lack of appetite;
• nausea and vomiting;
• pain in the right side;
• colorless feces;
• *dark urine.

70-80% who have had acute hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis C. This course of the disease is the most dangerous, because over time it leads to cirrhosis of the liver, and proceeds without any special symptoms.

Among them:

• general weakness;
• high fatigue;
• stomach ache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• stool disorder.

Often the symptoms are rare and do not have a pronounced character. In view of this, people do not take them seriously and attribute them to extraneous reasons. Even if you take into account that you are not sick with hepatitis C, the signs listed above, one way or another, signal violations in the work of your body. Remember that a timely visit to a doctor will help you avoid serious consequences.

How is hepatitis C transmitted?

Hepatitis C is transmitted in various ways, but in about half of the cases, the mode of infection remains unknown.

The main causes of the disease:

• using one needle by several people;
• transfusion of donor blood;
• sexual contact;
• from mother to child, if the mother is ill with hepatitis C during pregnancy or while breastfeeding;
• use of non-sterile needles during tattooing, piercing, etc.

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C

In order to diagnose hepatitis C disease, it is necessary to donate blood for hepatitis C. If antibodies are found in the blood to fight the virus, doctors will immediately begin treatment.

Hepatitis C treatment is a complex antiviral therapy aimed at:

• reduce or completely eliminate inflammation of the liver, in order to prevent the transition of hepatitis C to cirrhosis of the liver;
• eliminate the virus from your body.

Remember that only a timely visit to a doctor guarantees you a high probability of recovery and the absence of serious complications.

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Hepatitis C: risk groups, symptoms, treatment

Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease resulting from infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic.

Acute hepatitis is an inflammatory process in the liver that occurs within the first 6 months after infection with the hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute hepatitis C leads to chronic infection.
Chronic hepatitis C is a long-term illness that occurs when the hepatitis C virus remains in the body. The chronic form can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or liver cancer.
According to various estimates, up to 5 million people in Russia are carriers of this viral infection. Most people do not know they are infected because they do not feel sick.
Approximately 75%-85% of people who are infected with hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection failure, liver cancer, or death. CVHC is today one of the main causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – liver cancer.

How is hepatitis transmitted?

Hepatitis C develops when the blood of an infected person enters the body of a healthy person. Today, most people are infected with the hepatitis C virus through the sharing of needles and other items to inject drugs. Up to 19At the age of 92, when blood screening began, hepatitis C was also widely spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. People can also be infected with the hepatitis C virus through medical intervention, uncleaned instruments, or being born to a mother who is infected with hepatitis C. You are less likely to get hepatitis C virus through personal hygiene products that may contain blood particles, such as razors and toothbrushes. It is also possible to become infected through sexual contact with a person infected with the hepatitis C virus.
Transmission of hepatitis C (and other infectious diseases) is possible during tattooing or piercing, if all the rules and norms of hygiene are not observed. Often this happens in places of deprivation of liberty or in non-specialized institutions.
The risk of sexual transmission is considered low. The risk is higher for those who have multiple partners, suffer from concomitant diseases, sexually transmitted diseases or are infected with HIV.
Hepatitis C was not spread through eating utensils, hugging, kissing, shaking hands, airborne droplets, food or water. The hepatitis C virus is not transmitted from mosquito and pet bites.

Who is at risk?

Some people are at increased risk of infection:

• injecting drug users;
• patients receiving donated blood, blood products or organs;
• persons receiving hemodialysis;
• people who have pierced or tattooed with non-sterile instruments;
• healthcare workers with hepatitis C positive patients;
• HIV-infected persons;
• children born to mothers infected with the hepatitis C virus.

Less at risk:

• persons who have had sexual contact with a person infected with hepatitis C virus;
• people who use the patient’s personal hygiene items, such as razors and toothbrushes, which may contain blood particles from an infected person.

What is the risk of transmitting the hepatitis C virus from a pregnant woman to her baby?

Hepatitis C and pregnancy is one of the most pressing issues. Hepatitis C is rarely transmitted from a pregnant woman to a child. About 4 out of 100 babies born to mothers with hepatitis C become infected with the virus. However, the risk becomes greater if the mother has HIV infection or a high blood count of the virus.

What are the symptoms of acute hepatitis C?

Approximately 70%-80% of patients with acute hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. Some people, however, may experience mild to severe illness some time after infection, including:
fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes).
If symptoms occur, on average 6 to 7 weeks after infection, although this may vary from 2 weeks to 6 months. However, many people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus do not have any symptoms. Even if a carrier of hepatitis C does not notice any symptoms of the disease, he may be spreading the virus to other people. Many people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus do not know they are infected because they do not feel sick.

What are the symptoms of chronic hepatitis C?

Most people with chronic hepatitis C do not have any symptoms. However, if a person has been infected for many years, their liver can be damaged. In many cases, the symptoms of this disease do not appear until there is a problem with the liver. Hepatitis C is often detected in asymptomatic people during a routine blood test to evaluate liver function or levels of liver enzymes (involved in protein synthesis).
Typically, people with chronic hepatitis C experience fluctuations in liver enzyme levels, and they may be intermittently normal or near normal. Some infected people have normal levels of liver enzymes for more than one year, even with existing liver damage. If liver enzymes are normal, it is necessary to check several times over 6-12 months. If enzymes are consistently normal, your doctor may recommend checking them less frequently, such as once a year.

Who should be tested for hepatitis C?

Talk to your doctor about hepatitis C testing if:

• you have used drugs in the past;
• you had surgery before 1989;
• had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1989;
• you received hemodialysis;
• there are abnormalities in liver tests;
• you are a healthcare worker and have had contact with the blood of patients;
• you are infected with HIV;
• if you are pregnant, you need to be tested for hepatitis C.

Diagnosis of hepatitis C includes several different blood tests. Your doctor may order one or more of these tests. As a rule, first of all, a screening test is done, which shows the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (antibodies to hepatitis C, these are proteins contained in the blood produced by the body in response to the virus). The presence of a positive antibody test means that the body has had contact with the virus. If the antibody test is positive, then the doctor will most likely prescribe a test for the presence of the virus itself.

CVHC TREATMENT

The goal of CVHC treatment is sustained virological response (SVR). This term means a long-term absence of signs of liver inflammation with an undetectable level of the virus in the blood. Some patients with SVR completely get rid of the virus, while others achieve a long-term remission of the disease. Unfortunately, there are no available diagnostic methods that guarantee the complete removal of the virus from the body today, so all cured patients must undergo annual PCR tests and cannot become blood and organ donors. Each person should discuss treatment options with an infectious disease specialist. People with chronic hepatitis C should be regularly screened for liver health and are considered candidates for antiviral therapy. In the treatment of hepatitis C, a combination of two drugs, interferon and ribavirin, is used. However, not everyone with chronic hepatitis C requires treatment. In addition, drugs can cause serious side effects in some patients.
People with chronic hepatitis C should be under the supervision of an experienced physician. They should avoid alcohol as it can cause further damage to the liver. Be sure to check with your healthcare professional before taking any over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, or other medications, as they can harm your liver. Ask your doctor about hepatitis, A, and hepatitis B vaccinations.
Hepatitis C-infected individuals cannot be fired from their jobs for this reason unless their job involves contact with blood or blood products.

Are there any vaccines that can prevent hepatitis C?

So far, there are only vaccines for hepatitis, A and hepatitis B. Although research in this area is ongoing.

If hepatitis markers are detected, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist at a polyclinic at your place of residence.