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Treatment for the Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is infected by the hepatitis C virus. The virus attacks the liver and causes inflammation that inhibits the liver from functioning normally. Over time, the hepatitis C infection can cause liver scarring and cirrhosis or liver failure.

  1. Causes

    • The hepatitis C virus is spread by coming in contact with contaminated blood or needles. Being infected with needles used in body piercing or tattooing can happen, but is less common. Having a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992 also increases risk as blood screening was not improved until 1992. You may also acquire hepatitis C virus by sharing a razor or toothbrush and by having sexual relations with an infected person. Babies may become infected if their mother has hepatitis C.

    Symptoms

    • During early stages of infection, no symptoms may be experienced. When symptoms become noticeable, they are generally mild and may seem flu-like. These symptoms include fatigue, nausea, muscle and joint pain and tenderness around the liver. As the disease progresses and the liver becomes more damaged, symptoms will include appetite loss, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, slight fever, easy bruising, dark urine and diarrhea.

    Diagnosis

    • A blood test will determine if you have hepatitis C. A liver biopsy will tell your doctor how severe the infection is and guide him in regard to proper treatment.

    Treatment

    • Treatment is not always needed with hepatitis C unless the diagnosis is chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C indicates significant liver damage and drug therapy is needed to stop or slow the disease's progression. Weekly injections of Peg-Intron or Pegasys medications along with a daily oral drug called Rebetol is standard treatment. The goal is to rid your bloodstream of the virus. The duration of the treatment will depend on the type of hepatitis C you have, but can range from 24 weeks to 48 weeks.

    Liver Transplant

    • When the virus has caused liver failure, a liver transplant may be the only answer. Unfortunately there is a long waiting list for donated organs. However, there are new developments in treating liver failure such as liver segments donated by living relatives and donor livers being split between two patients. Liver transplant does not cure hepatitis C, but with hepatitis C viral-fighting drugs, you may prevent infection from reoccurring.

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