Hepatitis C

Information about Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a major public health problem. Over three million people suffer from chronic hepatitis C in the United States, and about 170 million people are infected worldwide. It's a disease caused by the hepatitis C virus and targets the liver, which leads to potentially damaging inflammation. If the virus is not cleared from the liver, fibrosis may occur. For some, this could mean serious complications.

• What Is Hepatitis C Infection?
• Ten Interesting Facts About Hepatitis C
• Common Hepatitis C Myths

Hepatitis C Symptoms

Acute hepatitis C often does not cause symptoms, but it can cause loss of appetite, extreme tiredness, muscle and joint aches, and other flu-like symptoms. Different signs and symptoms sometimes develop as the infection progresses. People without symptoms may never be diagnosed, although routine blood testing can sometimes indicate a problem that prompts further investigation.

• Common Hepatitis C Symptoms
• Understanding Symptoms of Hepatitis C
• Jaundice in Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Transmission

Hepatitis C spreads when people come into direct contact with hepatitis C virus-infected blood. Because of this, certain activities are considered high risk. Some of these activities are sharing and reusing needles, as well as accompanying equipment, and sharing personal items that come into contact with blood, such as razors and toothbrushes.

• Giving Hepatitis C to Your Baby
• Nursing Your Baby While Infected with Hepatitis C
• Spreading Hepatitis C By Sharing a Glass
• Why Mosquitoes Don't Spread Hepatitis C
• Spreading Hepatitis C through Sex
• Can I Get Hepatitis C from a Kiss?
• Ten Things That Won't Spread Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Diagnosis

A simple blood test that checks for an antibody to hepatitis C can be used, although diagnosing an active (and treatable) infection is more complex. A doctor may suspect hepatitis infection after taking a medical history and performing a medical examination, but only testing can confirm it.

• Blood Tests For Hepatitis C
• Diagnosing Viral Hepatitis with Liver Enzymes
• Hepatitis C Genotypes
• Seven Reasons You Need a Hepatitis C Blood Test

Hepatitis C Complications

Most people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus will develop a chronic infection that continues to damage the liver. Over time, many of these people will develop a serious complication of chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver. Other potential complications include liver cancer and liver failure.

• Alcohol and Hepatitis C
• Complications Associated with Chronic Hepatitis C
• Ten Complications of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Treatment

The goal of hepatitis treatment is to prevent or slow down complications of chronic hepatitis C. The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C is a combination of two drugs, peginterferon and ribavirin. This treatment is very effective for people with hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3. For people with genotype 1 (the most common genotype in the United States), treatment is usually less effective.

• Understanding the Basics of Hepatitis C Treatment
• Nutrition for Chronic Hepatitis C
• Information about Peginterferon
• Information about Ribavirin

Hepatitis C Prevention

As stated, people are at risk of developing hepatitis C when they come into direct contact with blood infected with the hepatitis C virus. Unlike many of the other hepatitis viruses, there is no vaccine that can protect you from hepatitis C. There are, however, simple but effective strategies that provide protection from hepatitis C virus exposure.

• Preventing Hepatitis C
• Six Ways to Prevent Hepatitis C Infection
• Why Is There No Vaccine for Hepatitis C?
• Are You at Risk for Hepatitis C?

_Sources:

_{Berenguer M, Wright, TL. Hepatitis C. In: M Feldman, LS Friedman, LJ Brandt (eds), Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8e. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2006. 1681-1712.}

_{Dienstag, JL. Acute Viral Hepatitis. In: AS Fauci, E Braunwald, DL Kasper, SL Hauser, DL Longo, JL Jameson, J Loscaizo (eds), Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17e. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com.}

_{Dienstag, JL. Chronic Hepatitis. In: AS Fauci, E Braunwald, DL Kasper, SL Hauser, DL Longo, JL Jameson, J Loscaizo (eds), Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17e. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com.}