Hepatitis C
Description
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes a swelling of the liver and stops it from working correctly. It
can be transmitted by sharing drug needles or by being pricked with an infected needle, being
born to a mother who has it, having multiple sex partners, or in rare cases, through a blood transfusion
or a tattoo administered with an unsterilized needle.
As with hepatitis B, if left untreated, HCV can become chronic, causing serious liver disease. At least 75% of individuals with HCV develop the chronic variety. Some four million individuals in the U.S. have the antibodies to HCV and have been infected with it at some point. As many as half of them do not know that they have the infection. HCV is infectious and there is not vaccination against it.
Symptoms
Of those infected, many — estimates are as high as 80% — don’t show symptoms.
For those who do, these symptoms may not appear for a decade or more. And when they do, they can
be as mild as the flu. But once these symptoms do appear, damage may be very serious.
Symptoms for the minority of individuals, develop 5-12 weeks after exposure and can include:
• fatigue/sore muscles
• fever
• loss of appetite
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• dark yellow urine
• light-colored stool
Test
Individuals often find out they have HCV by accident during a routine blood test that detects antibodies
to the viruses. A blood test for HCV specifically will detect how serious the infection is and whether
an individual has been exposed to other hepatitis viruses. Additional tests can be done to determine
the state of the liver. In some cases a liver biopsy can be done via a needle to check for signs
of HCV as well as for damage to the liver.
Outcomes
A combination of drugs, possibly including Interferon with Ribavirin, can be administered. The decision
to proceed with this form of treatment would be likely made by a gastroenterologist or liver specialist,
based on results of lab tests to assess liver function in combination with patient history.
To abate symptoms, plenty of rest and fluids are recommended along with avoiding alcohol and Tylenol, which could both harm the liver. Most treatments can be taken at home, but if more serious signs like dehydration appear, hospitalization is recommended.
In some cases, IV fluids can aid in recovery from the symptoms, and medicines for nausea and vomiting can be prescribed. For those who have had HCV for many years and have progressed to end-stage liver disease, there is the potential for a liver transplant.
