What Are the Effects of Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. In many cases, the disease becomes chronic after the initial infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75 to 85 percent of people who are infected by the hepatitis C virus develop a chronic infection.
Identification
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver usually caused by a virus, although some forms of the disease can be caused by the effects of drugs, toxins, disease or alcohol abuse. There are three types of hepatitis: A, B and C. Each of these types is caused by different viruses. Vaccines are available to prevent infection by the hepatitis A and B viruses, but no vaccines are currently available to prevent hepatitis C infection.
Symptoms
If you have been infected by hepatitis C, you may start to notice symptoms about 6 to 7 weeks after exposure to the virus. This is considered the acute phase of the virus. During this time, you may notice loss of appetite, fever, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, joint pain, jaundice, dark urine or abdominal pain. It is not unusual, however, to be infected with hepatitis C but never experience any of these symptoms.
Long-Term Effects
Some people are able to completely recover from hepatitis C after the acute phase. Others will develop the chronic form of the disease. Chronic cases of hepatitis C range from mild to severe, and it is possible to have chronic hepatitis C, with a mild degree of liver damage, yet experience no serious health problems. If you have severe hepatitis C, you may eventually develop liver failure or cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. Liver failure may occur more rapidly if you have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in addition to hepatitis C. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a small number of patients who have hepatitis C develop liver cancer after 20 to 40 years of living with the disease. You are more likely to develop cancer if you are male, over 40, abuse alcohol, already have cirrhosis or have had hepatitis C for several decades.
Transmission Methods
Sharing syringes, needles or other drug equipment may result in exposure to the blood of a person infected by hepatitis C. You can also acquire the disease if you work in a hospital or other healthcare setting and receive a needle stick injury. Using or sharing items that may have come in contact with blood, such as toothbrushes, razors or tattoo or body-piercing needles, can result in infection. Hepatitis C was once commonly spread through organ transplants and blood donations. According to the CDC, a new blood monitoring program begun in 1992 greatly reduced this risk. There is a slight risk that you can acquire the disease through sexual contact. The risk is higher if you participate in rough sex, have multiple partners or have a sexually transmitted disease or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Pregnant women can pass the infection on to their babies, although this risk is relatively low.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on symptoms, if there are any, and the results of blood tests. If you have been exposed to hepatitis C at some point, your body will produce an antibody that can be detected in a blood test. If this test is positive, your doctor may order another test to determine if the virus is still present in your bloodstream.
Treatment
There are no drugs available to treat the classic symptoms of hepatitis C that occur in the first, or acute, phase of the disease. Drinking fluids, resting and getting adequate nutrition is the recommended treatment. Your doctor may wish to monitor your condition if you've had a hepatitis C infection, and you may need treatment at some point if you develop the chronic form of the disease. If you experience serious liver abnormalities, your doctor may recommend that you take Pegylated interferon alfa in combination with ribavirin. These drugs work by clearing hepatitis C from your bloodstream. In some cases, a second course of drug treatment may be needed. Both of these drugs are very strong and may cause such side effects as irritability, depression, flu-like symptoms, memory and concentration problems, insomnia, fatigue, birth defects, anemia, nasal congestion and skin irritation. Pegylated interferon treatment isn't recommended if you have a history of uncontrolled depression, as the drug can trigger suicidal behavior or psychosis in people with this condition. If medication doesn't help, a liver transplant may be needed.
