Hepatitis C is a contagious viral infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. It primarily affects the liver and can lead to severe damage if left untreated. In this condition, there are no visible symptoms until there is a considerable damage to the liver.

Causes of Hepatitis C

HCV (hepatitis C virus) spreads only through contaminated blood or body fluid of an infected person. It can spread through:

• Sharing needles and drugs
• Unintentionally poked by infected needles
• Birth – a mother can pass it to a child
• Unprotected sex

Symptoms of Hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus can cause both acute and chronic infection. Long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C. In case of chronic hepatitis C, the symptoms can be silent for years until the liver has been significantly damaged.

Acute HCV infection does not produce any definite symptoms. The signs produced by an acute HCV infection can be correlated with a general viral syndrome. The following symptoms are typically seen in case of acute HCV:

• Nausea
• Joint Pain
• Abdominal Discomfort
• Fever
• Jaundice (although rarely)

Acute HCV becomes chronic HCV when the virus remains in the body for more than six months after the period of acute infection. In case of chronic HCV, the following signs and symptoms can be seen:

• Bleeding and bruising easily
• Jaundice (yellow discoloration of skin and eyes)
• Spider angiomas
• Ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
• Poor appetite
• Swelling in the legs

Every case of Hepatitis C starts with an acute infection which can remain silent and undiagnosed until evolving to the chronic stage. However, not all cases of acute HCV will evolve into chronic HCV.

Complications

Chronic hepatitis C infection which continues for many years may result in significant complications such as –

Cirrhosis – If hepatitis C is left untreated for years, it can cause scarring of the liver which can ultimately lead to cirrhosis.

Liver Cancer – Some considerable number of people may develop liver cancer due to hepatitis C infection.

Liver Failure – If hepatitis C has caused cirrhosis and the patient has undergone no treatment, it will eventually lead to liver failure.

Treatment Options for Hepatitis C

Treatment options for hepatitis C include antiviral medications, lifestyle changes and liver transplantation with an aim to clear out the virus from the body. Since Hepatitis C can be silent for years, the treatment options opted by doctors depend on the extent of the disease.

Antiviral Medications

Antiviral medications are administered to clear hepatitis C infection. If the infection has not caused cirrhosis of the liver, medications are more likely to be the preferred treatment option. Along with the treatment with antiviral medicines, patients must also alter their lifestyle which includes completely abstaining from alcohol and tobacco.

Liver Transplantation

Cirrhosis is a serious complication caused due to untreated hepatitis C. In cases where hepatitis C cannot be cured with antiviral medications, liver transplantation becomes the only treatment option. However, antiviral medicines are still administered after a successful liver transplant to cure the virus completely. Getting liver transplant in India from large corporate hospitals like Max Healthcare to make sure hepatitis C virus is completely removed from the body.

HCV is a persistent virus with potentially deadly complications. It is essential to get screened for the condition to get timely treatment. Over the past few years, with the advent of medical sciences, antiviral medications have become more effective at treating the virus in its early stages. In case of advanced hepatitis C, only a liver transplant becomes a viable treatment option.