Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

A viral infection caused by a virus called hepatitis C results in inflammation or swelling of the liver. Liver damage from hepatitis C can be quite significant. Blood that carries the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be shared by contacting it.

Most patients with a continuous hepatitis C infection, often known as a chronic infection, respond well to therapy with more recent antiviral medications. These drugs frequently treat chronic hepatitis C.

 Acute or chronic hepatitis C infections are possible. Although a persistent infection can result in major side effects, the hepatitis virus is typically curable with the right care.

What is hepatitis C?

 Liver infection that can cause major damage to the liver is hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus is the cause. The condition affects over 2.4 million people in the United States. However, few people experience symptoms, thus most are unaware. Blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person can spread the virus.

A viral illness that damages your liver is called hepatitis C. It results in swelling and inflammation, which over time damages the tissues of your liver. The term "hepatitis" refers to liver inflammation. Hepatitis has numerous causes, some of which are viral. Hepatitis C, however, has a far higher propensity to remain in your body for an extended period when compared to other viral hepatitis causes.

Also Read: Hepatitis B: Symptoms, Causes, Risk factors, Treatment & Prevention

The hepatitis C stages

Acute or chronic hepatitis C can occur.

Acute hepatitis C:

is typically defined by medical professionals as the initial six months following infection. Most of the time, it has no symptoms. Any symptoms you may have could show up two to twelve weeks after exposure and go away on their own.

Chronic hepatitis C:

On the other hand, the symptoms of chronic hepatitis C might appear over months or even years, and they can also get worse. It's possible that symptoms won't show up until they get worse.

Hepatitis C can lead to major, sometimes fatal problems if left untreated, such as:

• Liver scarring due to cirrhosis

• Failure of the liver

• Liver cancer

Symptoms:

An initial phase of hepatitis C infection precedes every long-term infection. Since acute hepatitis C rarely manifests symptoms, it is typically left undiagnosed. During this phase, symptoms could include fever, muscle pains, nausea, tiredness, and jaundice.

Chronic hepatitis C is the term for hepatitis C infection that lasts a long time. For many years, chronic hepatitis C typically shows no symptoms. Only once the virus has sufficiently damaged the liver to generate symptoms do they manifest.

Among the symptoms are:

• Bleeding easily.

• Easily bruised.

• Fatigued.

• Refusing to eat.

Skin yellowing is often known as jaundice. White folks may be more susceptible to this. Moreover, yellowing of the whites of the eyes in individuals who are white, black, or brown.

• Urine with a dark color.

• Skin irritation.

• Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the stomach area.

• Legs that swell.

• Reduced weight.

• Slurred speech, confusion, and drowsiness are symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy.

• Spider angiomas are skin-based blood arteries that resemble spiders.

Causes:

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the cause of hepatitis C infection. When virus-containing blood enters the circulation of an unaffected individual, the disease spreads.

There are various genotypes of hepatitis C infection present in the world. There are 67 subtypes and seven genotypes. Type 1 hepatitis C is the most prevalent genotype in the US.

Regardless of the genotype of the virus that causes it, chronic hepatitis C always proceeds in the same manner. However, the viral genotype can affect the course of treatment. However, many genotypes can be treated with more recent antiviral drugs.

 Risk factors:

taking a hepatitis C screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises screening for hepatitis C for all individuals between the ages of 18 and 79. For individuals who are at a high risk of exposure, screening is important. This comprises:

• Anyone who has ever taken an illegal drug by injection, snorting, or inhalation.

• Anybody with abnormal liver test results for which the reason is unknown.

• Offspring of a person with hepatitis C.

• pregnant individuals at the time of pregnancy.

• Workers in the medical and emergency fields who have come into touch with blood or who have had needlestick injuries.

• People who have hemophilia who received clotting factor treatment before 1987.

• People with a history of prolonged hemodialysis.

• Those who received organ or blood transplants before 1992.

• Partners in sexual relations for anyone with a diagnosis of hepatitis C.

• Those who are HIV positive.

• Sexually active individuals are set to begin taking pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, medication to prevent HIV.

Diagnosis and Testing for Hepatitis C

First, your blood will be examined by doctors for:

Anti- HCV antibodies:

Your body produces anti-HCV antibodies, which are proteins when it detects the hepatitis C virus in your blood. They typically manifest 12 weeks following infection.

Results are often obtained within a few days to a week, however, in certain locations, a quick test is offered.

The outcomes could be:

Negative or nonreactive: 

• This could indicate that you lack hepatitis C.
• You will require a second test if you have been exposed within the last six months.

Reactive, or positive: 

• This indicates that you have antibodies against hepatitis C and have had an infection at some point.
• To be sure, one more test is required.

You will receive this test if your antibody test is positive:

HCV RNA: 

This test counts the amount of viral RNA, or the hepatitis virus' genetic material, in your blood. They often appear one to two weeks following infection.

The outcomes could be:

• Negative: You do not have a Report Phrase hepatitis C.
• Positive: You currently have hep C at currently.

You may also get:

Tests for liver function evaluate the amounts of proteins and enzymes, which typically increase seven to eight weeks after infection. Enzymes leak into the bloodstream when damage to your liver occurs. However, hepatitis C can still exist in people with normal enzyme levels. Find out the rationale for  being tested for hepatitis C.

Complications:

Serious consequences, including the following, can result from a prolonged hepatitis C infection:

• Cirrhosis is the term for liver scarring. Decades of hepatitis C illness can leave scars.

•  The liver struggles to function when there is hepatic scarring.

• Cancer of the liver. Liver cancer is a rare side effect of hepatitis C infection.

• Failure of the liver. Liver failure may result from extensive scarring.

What is the hepatitis C treatment?

Today, there are numerous drugs available to treat hepatitis C. For the treatment of various viral strains, different medications are recommended. The strain (or genotype) you have and your general health may affect how long your therapy takes. Different people react to treatment differently.

The following drugs are authorized for the treatment of hepatitis C:

• Sovaldi® (sofosbuvir).

• Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (Harvoni®).

• Olysio® Simeprevir.

• Ritonavir, Dasabuvir, Paritaprevir, and Ombitasvir (Viekira Pak®).

• Daklinza®, or daclatasvir.

• Elbasvir/grazoprevir (Zepatier®).

• Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa®).

• Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret®).

• Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (Vosevi®).

• Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie®).

• Ribavirin (RibaPak®).

• Peginterferon alfa-2a/2b (Pegasys®/PEG-Intron®).

Will I require further medical care?

The infection may not be cured if you already have advanced liver disease (cirrhosis).  you may be already close to liver failure. Transplanting the liver is the only treatment for liver failure. You will have to go on the waiting list if your doctor decides you need a new liver. To preserve the health of your new liver, it is still crucial to cure hepatitis C in the meantime.

Prevention:

The following could shield against the infection of hepatitis C:

• Give up using illegal drugs. Get assistance if you use illegal drugs.

• Take caution when getting tattoos and body piercings. Choose a tattoo or piercing parlor that has a good reputation for cleanliness. Inquire about the methods used to clean the equipment. Ensure that the staff is using sterile needles. If staff members won't respond to inquiries, try another store.

• Share nothing personal, such as razors.

• When injecting drugs, never share syringes, needles, or other injecting equipment.

References:

• HCV guidance: Recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. https://www.hcvguidelines.org/. Accessed May 1, 2023.

• World Health Organization. Hepatitis C (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c). Accessed 12/09/2022.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis C (https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm). Accessed 12/09/2022.

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Hepatitis C (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-c). Accessed 12/09/2022.

• Ami T. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. March 24, 2023.

• Immunize.org. Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences (https://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4075.pdf). Accessed 12/09/2022.

• Definition and facts of liver transplant. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/liver-transplant/definition-facts. Accessed March 1, 2023.

• National Library of Medicine. Hepatitis C (https://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisc.html). Accessed 12/09/2022.

• Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm. Accessed March 1, 2023.

• American Liver Foundation: “Diagnosing Hepatitis C,”CATIE: “How Hep C transmission happens.”

• Screening for hepatitis C virus infection in adolescents and adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2020; doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1123.

• Ferri FF. Hepatitis C. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 1, 2023.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hepatitis C Basics (https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/learn-about-viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-c-basics/index.html). Accessed 12/09/2022.