Overview
Hepatitis C is a virus that causes inflammation and damage to the liver. Although the initial viral infection rarely causes any serious symptoms, hepatitis C can cause a chronic infection that damages the liver. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases estimates that 4 million people in the United States are infected with hepatitis C.
Symptoms
Most patients do not display any symptoms initially after a hepatitis C infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the event that a patient does develop symptoms, they typically include fatigue, a mild fever and nausea. Patients can also have tenderness in their liver (located in the upper-right portion of the abdomen) and experience muscle and joint pain.
Complications
Over time, a chronic hepatitis C infection can cause scarring of the liver (liver cirrhosis), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) says. As the liver gets damaged, patients can develop problems with blood clotting (leading to easy bleeding and bruising) as well as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Patients can also develop chronic fatigue, pale stools, dark urine and abdominal pain. As the disease progresses, it can lead to liver failure. The Mayo Clinic says that patients who are infected with hepatitis C also have a higher risk of developing liver cancer.
Transmission
The hepatitis C virus is transmitted via exposure to contaminated bodily fluids, such as blood. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the most common mode of transmission for hepatitis C is via sharing of needles among intravenous drug users. It can also be spread via sexual contact and can cross the placenta, meaning a pregnant mother can give it to her fetus. Hepatitis C can also be spread via blood transfusions, though more effective screening measures have made this route of transmission much less common.
Diagnosis
Hepatitis C can be diagnosed using blood tests. These blood tests usually look for antibodies against hepatitis C. These antibodies are special proteins that are produced by the immune system in response to a hepatitis C infection. A liver biopsy can also be done on patients with hepatitis C to determine the extent of any liver damage the virus might have caused.
Treatment
A chronic hepatitis C infection, according to the NIDDK, is treated with antiviral medications. These include peginterferon and ribavirin. The Mayo Clinic notes that patients might not need treatment if they do not have any serious liver abnormalities. In addition, some patients are given vaccines for hepatitis A and B, which are two separate viral infections that can exacerbate hepatitis C. In cases of extreme liver damage and failure, the only viable treatment is a liver transplant.
About this Author
Adam Cloe is an MD/PhD student at the University of Chicago. He has a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Boston University, where he won an award for excellence in undergraduate science writing. He has been published in various scientific journals.
