Hepatitis C: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Hepatitis C occurs when a viral infection causes liver damage. The virus causing this infection is called Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This virus causes inflammation of the liver that goes on to become chronic liver damage. This virus is responsible for causing acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging from the infection in its mildest form that lasts for just a few weeks to a serious and never-ending illness.

There are approximately 71 million chronically infected individuals worldwide. Most importantly, many of them are unaware of their infection, with important variations according to the geographical area.

How Do You Get Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C spreads when blood contaminated with the hepatitis C virus gets into your bloodstream through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.

You can be exposed to the virus from:

• Sharing injection drugs and needles
• Having sex, especially if you have an STD, an HIV infection, several partners, or have rough sex
• Being stuck by infected needles
• Birth – a mother can pass it to a child
• Sharing personal care items like toothbrushes, razor blades, and nail clippers
• Getting a tattoo or piercing with unclean equipment

What Hepatitis C Can Do to the Liver

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by an infection with the hepatitis C virus. It causes an inflammation in the liver and, if undetected, can lead to chronic infection, which causes liver cell death, leading to Liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and extra hepatic complications, which can be life-threatening.

Hepatitis C infection, like hepatitis B, does not cause any symptoms in most people. 9 out of 10 people who are infected by these viruses do not know about it and seek medical attention only when they present with signs of liver cell failure.

Signs of Mild HCV:

• Stomachache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle or joint pain
• Jaundice
• Abnormalities in stools or urine

Normally, these symptoms show up within six to seven weeks after one has had contact with a HCV-infected person.

Signs of Chronic HCV:

• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• Fever

Types

Broadly, there are two types of HCV:

• Acute Hepatitis C and
• Chronic Hepatitis C

The amount of time you take to see symptoms of HCV will tell you the kind of infection you have acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute Hepatitis C mean that the infection is short-term, lasting not more than six months. On the other hand, acute hepatitis leads to chronic hepatitis which can last for life because the body finds it difficult to get rid of the virus.

Diagnosis

By taking the blood test called Hepatitis C Antibody Test, doctors can find out if one has been infected by this virus or not.

What Does a Hepatitis C Diagnosis Mean?

Hepatitis C is an infection of liver caused by virus HCV. This infection causes chronic liver inflammation. Hepatitis C virus spreads through the blood of an infected person into the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Majorly, Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through infected needles, unguarded healthcare practices, or blood transfusion of not appropriately screened blood or blood products. It does not show any symptoms immediately after the infection.

What Tests Confirm a Hepatitis C Infection?

The diagnosis involves two steps of tests:

• Screening: Hepatitis C antibody test to screen the person for the infection.
• Diagnosis: Hepatitis C virus RNA PCR test to confirm whether the infection is active.

In some individuals, the infection goes away without any treatment. In others, the infection progresses and cause fibrosis, as a result of scarred tissue development. Due to scarring, it gets difficult for the liver to function normally which includes: difficulty in protein metabolism, blood filtration and releasing stored energy in the form of carbohydrates into the bloodstream.

Further, scarring can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, or portal hypertension. Note that not all individuals with Hepatitis C infection develop cirrhosis.

What to Do?

Consult a Liver Specialist immediately!

A liver specialist will examine you to know more about the size of the infection. The doctor may advise you to get some more blood tests done to know about the liver functioning and also an ultrasound scan of the liver to estimate the amount of scarring in the liver. If the test shows little or no scar tissue on the liver, there will be no risk of complications related to cirrhosis. A long-term follow-up with the liver specialist is surely recommended to monitor the progress of the disease. Alternatively, individuals with cirrhosis will have to be regularly screened for liver cancer and portal hypertension

The Treatment Plan:

A combination of direct-acting antiviral medications is prescribed to treat Hepatitis C infection. These drugs have shown great results in eliminating the Hepatitis virus from the body. The medication is prescribed for 8 to 24 weeks, and from time to time, the doctor may advise some blood tests to scan how much of the virus exists in the blood during the course. It’s important to mention your complete medical history and medications you are put on to avoid contraindications to the doctor.

Life with Hepatitis C:

To avoid the spread of Hepatitis C infection, it’s suggested that you follow these steps:

• Avoid sharing toothbrushes or razors with others
• Avoid intravenous drugs
• Have protected sex
• Do not have sex during menstruation

It is also recommended to avoid alcohol and drugs, which can increase the load on the liver, and to maintain a healthy diet to keep the liver functioning well.

After the completion of the treatment, the doctor will continue the blood tests to check for the viral load. In some individuals, after few weeks the virus may relapse. If there is no relapse for three months, you will be virus free.

Why Rela Hospital?

Advantages/Expertise

For several reasons that are growing every day, Rela Hospital is known to be one of the best hospitals in Chennai for Hepatitis C treatment. Our doctors, surgeons, and staff are experts in their chosen areas and recognize and understand the warning signs and symptoms of Hepatitis C. With the expertise of our committed gastroenterologists, we provide all patients with unparalleled treatment for hepatitis in our Chennai hospitals.

Though Hepatitis C may seem frightening to patients and their families, yet with the expertise and experience of our specialists, we regularly provide advanced treatment for Hepatitis C in Chennai, India.

Complications

If left untreated, Hepatitis C can quietly progress over the years and lead to several severe health issues, primarily affecting the liver. Approximately 75% to 85% of people infected develop chronic Hepatitis C, which can gradually damage liver function and structure. Some of the major complications include:

1. Cirrhosis (Liver Scarring)

One of the most common long-term effects of chronic Hepatitis C is cirrhosis. Over time, healthy liver tissue is slowly replaced with scar tissue, impairing the liver’s ability to function. This transformation usually occurs after several years or even decades of ongoing inflammation and damage.

2. Liver Failure (End-Stage Liver Disease)

As cirrhosis progresses, the liver’s ability to regenerate and maintain normal operations deteriorates. Eventually, the liver may reach a point where it can no longer perform vital tasks like filtering toxins or producing essential proteins, leading to complete liver failure. This condition often requires urgent medical interventions such as a liver transplant.

3. Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma)

Chronic infection with Hepatitis C significantly raises the risk of liver cancer, especially in individuals who already have cirrhosis. Even after successful antiviral treatment, those who have developed significant liver damage may continue to be monitored closely through blood tests and imaging to detect cancer at an early stage.

What are the Preventives for Hepatitis C?

There are several ways to prevent contracting Hepatitis C. Some of them are:

• Avoid sharing needles and other equipment used for injecting.
• Razors, toothbrushes, and anything personal should never be shared with others.
• Always confirm that the instruments or needles used to ink your tattoo are sterilised.
• When dealing with first aid, wear gloves to prevent catching an infection.

Frequently Asked Questions