This article provides a comprehensive overview of hepatitis C, covering its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. It highlights how the virus affects the liver and emphasizes the importance of early detection through blood tests. Learn about transmission modes, signs to watch for, and available medical interventions. Whether you are at risk or seeking information, this guide offers valuable insights into managing and preventing hepatitis C effectively.

Hepatitis C Overview: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Strategies

Hepatitis C is a highly contagious virus that significantly impacts global health. It mainly harms the liver, potentially leading to severe long-term issues. Among the five hepatitis types, hepatitis C is known as the most serious, often showing no symptoms initially. As the infection advances, signs like fever, stomach pain, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) may appear.

Causes of Hepatitis C
Transmission occurs through factors like excessive chemical use, organ transplants, sharing personal items, sexual activity, and body piercing. Breastfeeding might also spread the virus in rare cases. The main route of infection is contact with infected blood, especially viral exposure through cuts or injections.

Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C symptoms are classified into early (acute) and long-term (chronic) phases. About 15% of cases are acute, with mild or non-specific symptoms such as nausea, muscle pain, joint aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Some patients may develop liver failure without jaundice. Younger individuals and women tend to recover more swiftly.

If the virus persists beyond six months and spreads widely, it is diagnosed as chronic hepatitis C. Symptoms include easy bleeding or bruising, loss of appetite, dark urine, weight loss, fluid buildup in the abdomen, leg swelling, jaundice, itchy skin, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, and visible spider veins.

Available Treatments for Hepatitis C

Early diagnosis involves blood tests that detect HCV RNA within weeks of infection. Antibody tests are useful for screening but take longer. In newborns, diagnosis is tricky due to maternal antibodies lingering for up to 18 months. Confirmatory tests include additional blood analyses and liver biopsies to gauge liver damage. Testing is advised for those with prior blood transfusions before 1992, incarceration history, or tattoos. Rapid tests can deliver results in 30 minutes.