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What is hepatitis C? -

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver, damaging it over time.

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How common is hepatitis C? -

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s estimated that about 50 million people are infected with the virus worldwide, and that about 1 million new infections occur every year.

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What causes hepatitis C? -

Hep C is caused by a virus transmitted through contact with blood. Infection occurs when the blood of an infected person enters an uninfected person’s body.

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Differences between hepatitis A, B, and C -

Hepatitis A and B are caused by other viruses. How they are contracted, how they spread, as well as how they’re treated and prevented, differ from Hep C. Currently, there are vaccines for Hep A and B, but not for Hep C.

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Hepatitis C infection stages: incubation -

When the person contracts the virus, it goes through an incubation period. It replicates in the body until the immune system recognizes the infection and attacks it. 

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Hepatitis C infection stages: incubation -

The incubation period can last anywhere between two weeks to six months. This is when the symptoms start to appear (if there are any). 

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Hepatitis C infection stages: acute infection -

Hepatitis C causes inflammation in the liver, but symptoms such as fever, which often occur with other types of acute infections, are not present. This makes it hard to detect the disease. In fact, it’s estimated that only around 20% of people have symptoms.

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Hepatitis C infection stages: acute infection -

Those who do have symptoms can seek immediate treatment, which at this stage includes antiviral drugs. The acute infection stage lasts up to three months and only a small percentage of people effectively get cured during this period.

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Hepatitis C infection stages: chronic infection -

The vast majority of people with Hep C (an estimated 80%) develop a long-term infection. This means that the liver of people with Hep C is chronically inflamed and swollen. This leads to liver damage.

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Hepatitis C infection stages: chronic infection -

The liver damage caused by Hep C can lead to scarring, also known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis progresses slowly, but it may be aggravated by other factors, such as excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic Hep C can also lead to liver cancer (as a consequence of cirrhosis).

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How do you get hepatitis C? -

As mentioned previously, Hep C is contracted through contact with the blood of an infected person. Sharing needles for injecting intravenous drugs is one of the main culprits.

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How do you get hepatitis C? -

Those who work in healthcare are more exposed to accidentally contracting the virus through contact with needles or other sharp objects.

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How do you get hepatitis C? -

Things such as sharing a razor or even a toothbrush that came into contact with an infected person’s blood is also a way to get the virus.

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How do you get hepatitis C? -

So is the use of unsterilized tattoo and piercing equipment. Unprotected sexual contact where blood is present is also a way to get Hep C.

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Who’s at risk? -

People who are most commonly affected by hepatitis C include intravenous drug users, HIV-positive individuals, those born to a mother with hepatitis C, and people who received blood transfusions in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

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What are the symptoms of hepatitis C? -

Most people don’t have any symptoms, or they may have general flu-like symptoms that don’t alert them to the possibility of something more serious. These may include fever, fatigue, body aches, and loss of appetite.

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What are the symptoms of hepatitis C? -

However, some people do develop symptoms of acute liver failure. This includes jaundice (when the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dark-colored urine, and light-colored feces.

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Symptoms of advanced liver disease -

While some people may not develop any symptoms for years, the effects of cirrhosis in the later stages can manifest after years of damage.

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Symptoms of advanced liver disease -

In addition to the aforementioned, symptoms may also include limb edema (fluid in arms and legs), ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and unexplained weight loss.

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Symptoms of advanced liver disease -

Other symptoms of advanced liver disease include easy bruising and bleeding, itchy skin, as well as confusion and disorientation (hepatic encephalopathy caused by toxins build up).

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How is hepatitis C diagnosed? -

Hep C is diagnosed with a blood test called an RNA PCR test.

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Further tests -

If the person tests positive for chronic Hep C, then other tests will likely be performed to assess liver damage. These may include blood liver function tests, an elastography (imaging test), and in some cases, a liver biopsy.

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Does hepatitis C go away on its own? -

While Hep C doesn’t usually cure itself without adequate treatment, it occasionally does. This is more likely to happen during the early stages of the infection, when the immune system kicks in.

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Treatment -

Treatment for Hep C is done with antiviral drugs (e.g. sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, among others). The type of medications and the length of the treatment varies, depending on the strain of the virus.

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Treatment -

Those with chronic Hep C and advanced liver disease require monitoring as they are at risk of liver failure. In which case, the only cure would be a liver transplant.

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Prevention -

There isn’t an effective way to prevent Hep C infection, other than avoiding contact with blood. There is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C.

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How long can you live with untreated Hep C? -

Hep C will affect individuals slightly differently, though it may lead to extensive liver damage. It’s estimated that about 20% to 30% of people infected with the virus will get cirrhosis within 20 years. 

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Hep C in the world -

According to the WHO, in 2022 an estimated 242,000 people died as a result of hepatitis C. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) were the main causes of death.

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Hep C in the world -

The virus is spread all over the world. Around 12 million people in the Eastern Mediterranean region are chronically infected. This is followed by 9 million in the South-East Asia region, 9 million in Europe, 7 million in the Western Pacific region, 8 million in Africa, and 5 million in the Americas.

Sources: (WHO) (CDC) (Cleveland Clinic) (Mayo Clinic) (Medical News Today) (NHS)

See also: Are you taking care of your liver?

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