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Hepatitis C Therapy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread mostly through the use of shared hypodermic needles or other paraphernalia used for injecting drugs. Hepatitis C leads to both acute and chronic infection, each of which is managed differently. No treatment can cure hepatitis C.

  1. Acute Hepatitis C

    • No specific treatment is available for acute hepatitis C. According to the CDC, management of the symptoms of acute hepatitis C includes rest, getting enough fluids and maintaining proper nutrition. According to the Mayo Clinic, it may also be recommended that people who have been infected with hepatitis C be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, which also cause liver damage.

    Chronic Infection Overview

    • Most cases of hepatitis C infection lead to chronic infection, meaning that symptoms are recurring. The complications of chronic hepatitis C infection include cirrhosis, chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Because of these risks, the CDC recommends that people living with chronic hepatitis C be routinely screened to assess their liver health.

    Testing

    • According to the CDC, it is necessary to test people who have contracted HCV to determine which form of the virus they are infected with. This is because the effectiveness of treatments varies on which form of the virus has been contracted.

    Treatment

    • The two main drugs used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection are interferon and ribavirin, both of which limit the activity of the virus. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), ribavirin is only useful when taken alongside another drug, such as interferon, so all medications should be taken as prescribed. Depending on the type of the virus contracted, not everyone will need drug treatment.

    Side Effects

    • The side effects of ribavirin include anemia and serious complications, including fatigue and weakness, pale skin, headache, dizziness, confusion, accelerated heart rate, difficulty breathing and chest pain. Both male and female chronic hepatitis C sufferers must take extra precautions if they themselves or their partners are could be pregnant, as ribavirin can lead to the death of a fetus.

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