Hepatitis C is a viral infection affecting the liver, causing inflammation and potential tissue damage. This virus is spread through contaminated blood and, if left untreated, may lead to serious liver damage.
Since the liver functions to filter all the blood in the body, process waste, and aid in digestion, keeping this major organ healthy is vital. If left untreated or ignored, hepatitis C can lead to liver scarring, making it difficult to function properly. As a result, this can lead to liver failure, which becomes a life-threatening condition.
Hepatitis C can be acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis may go untreated because there may be little to no signs and symptoms. An acute infection often leads to a chronic infection. However, in rare instances, spontaneous viral clearance may occur, meaning the virus had left a person before it became a chronic condition. Every chronic infection begins with an acute phase, though, and signs and symptoms may present in the following ways:
Symptoms may vary in severity, but unfortunately, once symptoms do present in a person, it may mean it has already become a chronic condition. For this reason, if a person has risk factors along with signs and symptoms, they should contact a doctor for further testing. Left untreated, Hepatitis C leads to a scarred liver which eventually can mean a liver transplant may be necessary in the most severe cases.
Hepatitis C is caused when blood contaminated with the virus comes in contact with an uninfected person. Because we understand that the virus is spread by blood contact, you can take preventative measures to reduce the risk of contracting this liver-damaging virus. There are several common high risks that Hepatitis C develops in a person.
They may be exposed to infected blood and can develop Hepatitis C if an infected needle pierces their skin.
They often use “dirty” needles to inject drugs, leading to infection.
If you have HIV, you are at an increased risk of having Hepatitis C as well.
Tattoos and piercings received in a dirty environment increase your risk of contracting Hepatitis C.
Practices to help reduce the risk of Hepatitis C are no injections of illicit drug use, safe sex, and using sterile equipment for any skin piercings. There may be other risk factors for Hepatitis C, so if you have developed any signs and symptoms, you should seek further professional medical help.
A simple blood test diagnoses hepatitis C. If the blood test has positive antibodies for Hepatitis C, more advanced blood testing may be ordered to determine if the virus is present or has spontaneously cleared a person. Since, for many people, the virus’ signs and symptoms may not present until liver damage has occurred, adults should be screened for Hepatitis C, especially if they have any risk factors.
Hepatitis C treatment used to require weekly treatments such as oral meds or injections that were often difficult for patients to receive because of other risk factors present and side effects of medications. Today it has been discovered that Hepatitis C is usually curable over time. Acute Hepatitis C usually responds well to antiviral therapy. Chronic Hepatitis C may require daily oral meds for two to six months of treatment, but the outcome is often positive for curing the diagnosis.