Hepatitis C is a viral infection caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which affects the liver. The virus causes tissue to become inflamed, and it can lead to serious liver damage. The infection causes few noticeable symptoms, which may take decades to arise. It is spread through the exchange of bodily fluids and through contaminated blood.
Hepatitis C progresses in a number of different stages, at which the condition takes on a different name. If you are above the age of 18, it is highly recommended that you are regularly screened for HCV, as it could catch the disease before it progresses too far. We recommend these Best Nephrologist in Lahore if you need an appointment for a screening in that city.
Stages of Hepatitis C
Incubation Period: This is the period between initial exposure to onset of the disease, and can last between two to ten weeks.
Acute Hepatitis: This stage is titled as a separate condition if it progresses no further than six months, after which the virus is removed from the body naturally.
Chronic Hepatitis: If the condition persists after six months, it is known as chronic hepatitis, which makes up about 85% of all cases. At this point, the risk of severe liver damage and cirrhosis grows larger with every passing day.
Cirrhosis: This refers to the stage at which liver damage is so extensive that scar tissue replaces healthy cells as a result of inflammation. It may take decades for Hepatitis C to do such severe damage.
Liver Cancer: This is not a guaranteed result of cirrhosis, however, the likelihood of you developing it is a lot higher if you do have cirrhosis.
Symptoms
Though symptoms of the infection itself are few and do not allow for accurate diagnosis initially, after the prolonged presence of the virus, liver damage may occur and present associated symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Bruising easily
- Having a poor appetite
- Itchy skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Dizziness, general confusion and difficulty speaking
- Jaundice, or a yellow colouration of the eyes and skin
- Urine that appears very dark
- Abrupt loss of weight
As mentioned earlier, the virus is transferred through the exchange of bodily fluids or contact with contaminated blood. Here is a more straightforward list of what could potentially result in infection:
- Sharing needles after use
- Having sexual intercourse with individuals that have already been infected
- Having a mother who had the virus at the time of birth
- Sharing personal care items like toothbrushes
- Being wounded by a contaminated objects like used tattoo needles or rusted nails
Treatment
Acute Heptatitis C does not require medication. If it progresses to chronic Hepatitis C, medication options are available. Treatment options initially came with certain trade-offs like unwanted side-effects, but recent developments have resulted in medication that can ultimately cure the disease within a year of regular oral consumption.
These new treatment options include:
- Elbasvir-grazoprevir, which has more than a 90% success rate in curing patients, and only needs to be taken once a day
- Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir, which can cure most individuals within 8-12 weeks, if taken once daily
- Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir, is also a daily pill, and can also cure individuals within 12 weeks
These are not the only medication options available, and these may all be used in combination depending on the patient’s requirements.
If you need to look into any of these potential treatment options, we recommend you consult any of these Best Nephrologist in Islamabad if you live within that city.
