| Hepatitis
C What is hepatitis?
The liver is one of the organs that helps with digestion but is not part
of the digestive tract. It is the largest organ in the body and carries out many important
functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and
poisons from the blood.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that sometimes causes permanent damage. It is
caused by viruses, bacteria, certain medications, or alcohol. Generally, symptoms of
hepatitis include fever, jaundice, and an enlarged liver. There are several types of
hepatitis.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (once called non-A, non-B hepatitis) is a liver
disease caused by a recently identified blood-borne virus. Discovered in 1989, this strain
of acute viral hepatitis causes approximately 36,000 new infections in the
US each year.
Recovery from this infection is rare - about 85 percent of infected
persons become chronic carriers of the virus. Approximately 25 percent of people infected
with hepatitis C virus will become sick with jaundice or other symptoms of hepatitis.
Seventy-five percent of these individuals may go on to develop chronic liver disease.
Chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C causes between 8,000 and 10,000
deaths and is the leading indication for liver transplantation each year in the United States. By the
year 2010, the number of deaths from hepatitis C is expected to rise to 38,000
each year.
What causes hepatitis C?
Transmission of hepatitis C occurs primarily
from contact with infected blood, but can also occur from sexual contact or
from an infected mother to her baby. Blood transfusions prior to 1992 and the use of shared needles are other
significant causes of the spread of hepatitis C.
Who is at risk for hepatitis C?
The following describes persons who may be at
risk for contracting hepatitis C:
-
children
born to mothers who are infected with the virus
-
persons
who have a blood-clotting disorder such as hemophilia and received
clotting factors before 1987
-
persons
who require dialysis for kidney failure
-
individuals
who received a blood transfusion before 1992
-
persons
who may participate in high-risk activities such as intravenous (IV) drug
use and/or unprotected heterosexual or homosexual sexual contact.
There
is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Persons who are at risk should be
checked regularly for hepatitis C. Persons who have hepatitis C should
be monitored closely for signs of chronic hepatitis and liver failure.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
The following are the most common symptoms for hepatitis C.
However, each
individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- vague stomach pain
- jaundice - yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- fever
- dark yellow urine
- light-colored stools
- muscle and joint pain
Symptoms may occur from two weeks to six months after exposure. The
symptoms of hepatitis C may resemble other medical conditions or problems.
Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
How is hepatitis C diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination,
diagnostic procedures for hepatitis C may include the following:
- blood tests
- liver biopsy - a procedure performed to remove tissue or cells
from the body for examination under a microscope.
Treatment for hepatitis C:
Specific treatment for hepatitis C will be determined by your physician based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
At the present time, a vaccine is not available for the prevention of
hepatitis C. Treatment may
include biological therapy with interferon.
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