Hepatitis C Info - Things To Know

Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C cannot be cured and stays in a patient's body for a lifetime. Although this disease is shockingly common, most people don't know what it is, what its symptoms are or how it can be transmitted. In this article, we've got some critical hepatitis C info that can save your life.

According to hepatitis C info, it is caused by a virus (medically abbreviated as HCV). Most patients with hepatitis A or B develop an acute infection, recover completely, and develop antibodies that protect them from getting the disease again. However, the hepatitis C virus changes form to evade discovery and attacks the immune system. Hepatitis C patients do develop antibodies, but they are not curative or protective, as in hepatitis A or B. Most people infected with the HCV virus will develop chronic hepatitis.

Hepatitis C is known to be spread through infected blood, blood products, needles and sexual contact. Prior to the late 1980s, people were most at risk for contracting the disease through blood transfusions. However, a blood test was developed at that time to detect the virus, and the blood supply is now always tested to prevent the spread of the disease in this way. Nowadays, the people most at risk for getting hepatitis C are drug users who share needles. There are also a larger number of cases among east Asians. In about 40% of all cases of hepatitis C, it is unknown how the patient was infected with the virus. This situation is known as a community acquired disease.

Most patients with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. If there are symptoms, they are similar to the symptoms of liver disease. These include nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, extreme fatigue, and yellowing of the skin and eyes, which is known as jaundice. It can take from 2 to 26 weeks for the disease to develop once the patient is infected with HCV. This is a cause for concern because it is possible for them to have the disease for some time before it is diagnosed. If cirrhosis, which is liver scarring, has developed, then other more serious symptoms may occur. A liver biopsy is almost always required to determine how serious the disease may be. It is believed that about 20% of the patients with chronic hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis, and a few of those will go on to develop liver cancer. It may take from 10 to 40 years for serious liver damage to occur.

There is no vaccine currently available to protect against hepatitis C, so it is up to carriers to try to stop the spread of the disease. Getting accurate hepatitis C info also helps the general public protect itself and reduce transmission. People can prevent getting hepatitis C by not sharing anything that is likely to hold and transmit blood, like razors, manicure tools, toothbrushes, and especially IV drug needles. Practices such as ear piercing and tattooing should be avoided in places where sterile conditions are questionable. With a little effort, we all can reduce the spread of this disease.

More about hepatitis c info

Hepatitis C Symptoms

During the acute phase, the disease is mild and many people do not have hepatitis C symptoms. Only 25% of persons will appear jaundiced during this phase.