A liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) which can cause long-term infection leading to a serious lasting illness. Hepatitis C is spread only through exposure to an infected person's blood.
1 in every 45 seconds is the rate of people dying due to untreated hepatitis C that led to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer which means nearly 400 thousand patients die every year.
A short course of oral treatment is available today for hepatitis C patients with extremely high rates of success and very minimal side effects. HCV patients can now feel as good as new within just a few months.
Hepatitis C virus is most commonly transmitted through:
- Sharing of drug injection equipment.
- Non Sterile medical equipment.
- Open wounds or sores, used tampons, sanitary napkins, tissues, used bandages, and anything else that might have blood on it.
- Unprotected sex and it can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby; however these modes of transmission are very unlikely.
- Sharing or not disposing of grooming and hygiene supplies.
Casual contact like hugging, kissing and sharing food or drinks with an infected person is not a cause for hepatitis C.
Manifestations of hepatitis C
Between exposure and infection for Hepatitis C, the period is 2 weeks to 6 months. Hepatitis C symptoms are generally mild and flu-like and may include:
- Fever and Tiredness
- poor appetite and Nausea
- Vomiting and abdominal pain
- Dark urine and pale faces
- Joint pain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes).
Hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis if left untreated. Over the years, HCV infection can cause major damage to the liver. HCV infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer
LIVER CIRRHOSIS
Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases, such as hepatitis … it is when the scarred tissue in the liver gradually replaces the healthy tissue this occurs after many years of infection, up to 15 years or more.
Symptoms of liver cirrhosis:- exhaustion and weakness
- poor appetite
- weight loss
- nausea
- very itchy skin
- tenderness or abdominal pain
- tiny red lines (blood capillaries) on the skin
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (Jaundice)
LIVER FAILURE
Every year 1 in every 20 people with Hepatitis associated cirrhosis will develop liver failure… in advanced cases of cirrhosis; the liver loses most or all of its functions this is known as liver failure.
Symptoms of liver failure include:- hair loss
- build-up of fluid in the legs, ankles and feet (oedema)
- build-up of fluid in your tummy (ascites)
- dark urine
- black tarry stools or very pale stools
- nosebleeds and bleeding gums
- bruising easily
LIVER CANCER
Each year 1 in every 20 people with Hepatitis-associated cirrhosis will develop liver cancer.
Symptoms of liver cancer can include:- poor appetite
- weight loss
- nausea
- abdominal pain