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What is the Hepatitis C Virus?

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus or HCV. Hepatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis C can be fought off in a short time and never return. Chronic hepatitis is a illness that is life-long, but can be contained. A lot of people who contract acute hepatitis C go on to contract chronic hepatitis C. This disease is transmitted only through blood-to-blood contact.

  1. Prevention

    • Although other types of hepatitis have vaccines, there is no known vaccination for HCV. Research is being done to come up with an answer.

    Transmition

    • Both acute and chronic hepatitis C are transmitted in a couple of common ways. One way is by sharing syringes with people who are infected with the virus. Another is getting a tattoo with unsanitized needles. Sex also is thought to be a way to spread the virus, but the chances of contracting the disease this way are small.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms to both acute and chronic hepatitis C include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain and jaundice, which turns your eyes and skin yellow.

    Detection

    • Doctors test your blood for HCV antibodies, which will be present if the patient was ever exposed to the virus. If the antibodies are present, you will get an additional test to see how much of the virus is still present in your liver.

    Treatment

    • There are mainly just two treatments for HCV. The main treatment is a combo of Interferon and Ribavirin, which is an antiviral medication. Another common medication is Peginterferon that is similar to a protein your body produces to fight of infection. These treatments do not work for everybody and can cause severe side effects. These two medications are only given to people with chronic hepatitis.

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