The sharing of contaminated needles between IV drug users is the most common cause for developing Hepatitis C. Even if a person has not done this for a couple years but has a history of sharing needles, they are at risk for developing hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus known as HCV. Hepatitis can be acute or chronic and is considered chronic if you have had this disease for greater than 6 months. Hepatitis is spread by having contact with the blood of an infected person who has the Hepatitis C virus. In the 1980's Hepatitis C used to be known by the name Non A- Non B hepatitis.
Because hepatitis C is spread through having direct contact with the blood of an infected person, you will not contract this disease by casual contact. This means you cannot get the virus by shaking hands, hugging or using the same silverware or drinking cup. It is not passed from person to person by food or water.
If you receive a tattoo and they are using same needle between customers, you could contract Hepatitis C if the needle has come in contact with a carrier of hepatitis C. This is why there are safety regulations for tattoo parlors to follow. Sometime a mother who is infected with hepatitis C can pass it on to her unborn child.
Other ways that you can increase your chance of contracting hepatitis C is by sharing toothbrushes or using the same razor with an infected individual. It is rare, but this disease can be passed through sexual intercourse.
Most individuals who have become infected with hepatitis C will not have any symptoms for years. An individual with hepatitis C will always have the disease and it does not go away. There are many individuals who are not aware that they have this disease and may be spreading it to other individuals. The symptoms of this disease in the early stages can be very mild and the reason why there may be a delay in diagnosing this disease. In the early stage of this disease you may have a mild fever, muscle aches, increasing fatigue, poor appetite, Hepatitis is a slow progressive disease that can take 20 to 30 years before serious liver damage has occurred. The end result of this disease is liver failure or developing liver cancer and or death.
The symptoms that occur later are urinating a dark coffee color. When you have a bowel movement the color of the stool may be clay colored. Your skin and or your white part of the eyes will become yellow, this is known as jaundice.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. If you are diagnosed with hepatitis C they will encourage you to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. You will not be able to donate blood or if you are a male you cannot donate your sperm.
Treatment will focus on maintaining good health habits. You will be strongly encouraged to avoid alcohol products or drugs, alcohol and drugs can injure the liver further. Some individuals will be given medications specifically designated to help to manage the Hepatitis C. There is no cure. The medications are usually given as a daily injection or given every other day. The treatment may be given for several months and is dependent on the treatment plan your physician prescribes for you. The goal of all treatment is the prevention of any further liver damage. With treatment you may be able to continue a good and productive life.
Your physician will monitor you closely to see if the medications are working. They will draw blood levels when receiving the medication to treat this disease to see if the amount of the Hepatitis C virus in your blood is decreased or eliminated. When they are looking for the virus in your blood, the amount of virus that is present is called your viral load. Your physician will closely monitor your individual viral load and monitor the status of your liver function.
When they are checking your blood after treatment and if the Hepatitis C virus levels are so low that the blood tests cannot measure them in the bloodstream, they will tell you that the virus is not detectable. If the virus remains non detected for 6 months after completing the medication regime, you will be told you have a good SVR. SVR is a sustained virologic response the physician will be looking for if the medication given has been effective. This is a good outcome because a good SVR will reduce the chances of developing serious complications with the liver in future years.