Hepatitis C: A Silent Killer If Not Detected

Hepatitis C: Hepat meaning liver; is a virus/infection in the liver. The infection is a serious health problem. The liver can become damaged. This means that a hepatitis C infected liver could turn into liver cancer, cirrhosis, even failure of the liver. Also, the severe chronic active hepatitis C affects the immune system when it is co infected by the immunodeficiency viruses.

Even though someone can be affected by the hepatitis C, they could have it for 15 to 20 years without any symptoms. There are symptoms like the flu, also joint and stomach pain. Feeling tired with sore muscles, n aching and the urine turning dark. Another is yellowing of the skin and eyes. It also can cause the kidneys to shut down.

There are several ways to become infected by hepatitis C. In the US, injecting street drugs with the same needle of someone that has the disease is most common. Having a transplant or a blood transfusion prior to 1985 to 1992 (not sure when the testing for hep C started, have seen both dates) is another way of being infected by the virus/disease. Also those that have a piercing or tattoos are another. In the 70s and early 80s the same needles were used time and time again for the tattoos and the same for a piercing. Also the needles were used directly in the ink bottle for the tattoos. Therefore each person's blood was being mixed together. So if someone with hepatitis C received a tattoo then all those that were tattooed from the same bottle could be infected. This was very common in the 70s. In NC there were more then 100 people that became infected with hepatitis C at one tattoo parlor.

It is believed that hepatitis C cannot be spread by kissing, hugging, or eating after someone. However do not use someone else's toothbrush or razors because of the bleeding. This disease is contracted only through the blood. Infected blood has to be present. It would even be rare for a woman with hepatitis C, which is pregnant to infect the baby but not impossible. Even though she may have three children, one could be infected with the disease. But it is believed that the virus cannot be spread through sexual intercourse unless there are sores or blood present.

Many people find that they have hepatitis C when giving or donating blood. If you are infected it will be found then. At that time you will be notified by mail to what was found and to follow up with a Hepatologist (A gastroenterologist who specializes in diagnosing and treatment of liver diseases.) Of course donating blood would be a less expensive way to find out if you think it may be possible.

If there is a chance of being infected with the virus, a hepatitis C check kit can be purchased at many drugstores. After going to the Hepatologist more blood screening will be done then he can tell by the test if you are infected with hepatitis C. If there are antibodies then at some point hepatitis C was present. In which case there can be damage to the liver. Therefore a liver biopsy can be performed by removing a small piece of the liver with a needle to take a closer look under a microscope. They then rate the liver damage 0-4. Zero being no damage and of course the higher up to 4 the more severe the damage is.

There is a treatment for the virus. The combination of Ribavirin and Peginterferon is used to fight the infection of the liver. To keep from having more liver damage there are things you can do. Some of these things are eating healthy, exercising, no illegal drugs, or alcohol, also watch certain medications with acetaminophen in them.

The treatment with the two medications takes 1 year but most times are successful in fighting the virus. There are five different types, hepatitis A through G. Even though C is believed to cause the most health problems.