Hepatitis-C silently damages Liver

Hepatitis means inflammation (immune cells damaging) of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, excess of fat in liver, infections either bacterial or viral and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis.

Hepatitis C is a virus which is an important cause of permanent liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancers. It usually spreads when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with Hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment to inject drugs.

Hepatitis C also spreads through blood transfusions and organ transplantation. Sexual transmission of Hepatitis C is possible. Having a sexually transmitted disease or HIV, sex with multiple partners, appears to increase a person’s risk for Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C can also be spread when getting tattoos and body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with non-sterile instruments. Sharing of the razors while shaving can also lead to spread of this virus.

Also, approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C. Still, some people don’t know how or when they got infected. The prevalence of hepatitis C is about 1 % of the total population. That means when randomly 100 persons are tested, it may be positive in 1 person. Once infected over a period of time the virus slowly damages the liver in majority of people. Many people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If symptoms occur, they can include: fever, feeling tired, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, dark urine, grey-colored stool, joint pain, and yellow skin and eyes. If symptoms occur with acute infection, they can appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after infection. When symptoms appear with chronic Hepatitis C, they often are a sign of advanced liver disease. Unlike other conditions this is not known unless tested.

The only way to know if you have Hepatitis C is to get tested. Doctors use a blood test, called a Hepatitis C Antibody Test, which looks for antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus. Antibodies are chemicals released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected.

Antibodies remain in the bloodstream, even if the person clears the virus. A positive or reactive Hepatitis C Antibody Test means that a person has been infected with the Hepatitis C virus at some point in time. However, a positive antibody test does not necessarily mean a person still has Hepatitis C. An additional test called a RNA test is needed to determine if a person is currently infected with Hepatitis C.

Testing for hepatitis C is generally recommended for all persons because by treating it we can protect our liver from getting damaged. Testing for Hepatitis C virus is highly recommended in people who have earlier injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago, have certain medical conditions such as chronic liver disease and HIV or AIDS, have been exposed to blood from a person who has Hepatitis C or on hemodialysis, or are born to a mother with Hepatitis C. Treatment depends on many different factors, so it is important to see a doctor experienced in treating Hepatitis C. New and improved treatments are available that can cure Hepatitis C. Till recently treatment of hepatitis C was a difficult because the required treatment was very costly. The response rate of treatment was suboptimal and the injections required for treatment were with many side effects. Presently in this year many new drugs have come into the market thanks to the research. When compared to the previous years treatment now the treatment is easier, with oral drugs which are affordable to many with less side effects. Although there is currently no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C, there are ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment. Do not use personal items that may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, even in amounts too small to see, such as razors, nail clippers, tooth brushes. Do not get tattoos or body piercings from an unlicensed facility or in an informal setting.