Hepatitis affects the liver with swelling, infections, and inflammation. Within all types, hepatitis C is the most common and contagious disease, transmitted through infected blood and other body fluids. Signs of chronic Hepatitis C in adults can be visible if this viral hepatitis disease develops into chronic. New antiviral medications, treatment procedures, and remedies can help facilitate a faster recovery from this disease. But chronic hepatitis C can cause serious diseases like liver failure, liver cancer, and liver cirrhosis. Liver screenings, along with proper diagnosis, help eradicate liver damage and improve sustainability.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects your liver health and is a common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, & liver failure.
It can be classified into two main types, acute and chronic hepatitis C. Acute infection can be identified if a person is getting infected for the first time, and it lasts for a month or a short time. This early stage can vary widely in intensity — from barely noticeable or symptom-free to a severe illness that may require hospital care. How do you know if you have Hepatitis C symptoms? It needs several blood tests and screenings.
However, it’s the chronic form of hepatitis C that is far more prevalent. This long-lasting infection can persist for life and may result in serious liver complications, such as cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring) or liver cancer.
Causes of Hepatitis C:
When you have any close contact with an infected person, hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood or other body fluids. Though it’s a silent viral infection that occurs in the liver and damages liver function if left ignored.
Hepatitis can be transmitted through sharing needles and related tools. Using even a single contaminated needle can put you at risk. The infection can also spread via other drug-taking equipment, like spoons, filters, pipes, or straws, if they come into contact with infected blood.
Rather than these, there are some other causes of hepatitis C disease:
- Having unprotected sex with an infected person.
- If anyone is already infected with HIV, there is a higher risk of getting hepatitis C.
Signs & Symptoms of HCV:
Do you know what are the first symptoms of Hepatitis C? In some cases, there are no such symptoms which help identify your hepatitis C disease. The common Hepatitis C symptoms in women and men are:
- Abdominal pain
- Dark coloured urine
- Frequent fever, body pain, & fatigue
- Jaundice (yellow eyes)
- Blood in your poop
- Nausea & vomiting
- Itchiness on your skin
Risk factors of Hepatitis C disease:
As you know, chronic disease means it runs for a long time, so chronic hepatitis C can cause various complications as it affects your health for a long time. You are well known that hepatitis C is a liver infection or inflammation, and during this disease, you need proper treatment.
Chronic hepatitis C infection can affect liver function, and serious illnesses like liver failure, liver cancer, and liver cirrhosis can occur.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis C:
Your medical professionals may diagnose your hepatitis C disease depending on the conditions, symptoms, and how it is transmitted from another person. The blood tests also identify the antibodies produced in response to the Hepatitis C virus. These antibodies are special proteins created by your immune system whenever it encounters a foreign invader, like a virus. This test is also commonly performed during pregnancy to screen for Hepatitis C and reduce the risk of passing the infection from mother to baby.
Anti-HCV tests can also be classified as reactive and non-reactive in the presence of the Hepatitis C virus.
In some chronic cases, Hepatitis C RNA testing can be suggested to check if a person still has the HCV in the body and how much it replicates.
Can Hepatitis C cause liver cancer?
Hepatitis C disease can be associated with liver cancer if chronic hepatitis C affects liver function. Researchers revealed that some major factors may increase the risks of liver cancer in patients with viral hepatitis C, though the reasons are not specified or complex.
Hepatitis C isn’t just tied to liver damage; research shows it may also raise risks for cancers of the bile duct, pancreas, and even the head and neck. Hepatitis C can trigger changes in gene activity, persistent inflammation, and immune reactions. With time, this ongoing damage may cause cirrhosis — scarring of the liver — which can eventually progress into hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer.
Why does Hepatitis C cause liver damage?
If your liver is getting inflamed for a long time, the greater the risk of liver damage. When HCV directly triggers your liver cells, it affects the liver’s immune responses, which can later develop into liver damage, along with liver scarring and liver cancer.
Who should get tested?
For a long time, HCV infection has been prevalent worldwide and is found commonly in people. It’s important to know the risks of developing HCV in people, are:
- Contact with blood or body fluids (such as firefighters, medical staff, or first responders)
- Sharing personal care items like toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers with someone who is infected
- Using or exchanging needles for drug injections
- Getting tattoos or body piercings done with contaminated or unsterilized equipment (including ink)
- Women planning to conceive
- Being born to a mother carrying the Hepatitis C infection
- Undergoing long-term hemodialysis treatment
- Engaging in unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners or having a history of sexually transmitted infections
Contact Nirnayan Healthcare, the best laboratory chain in Kolkata, for safe and trusted testing procedures and get tested, avoiding any delay.
Conclusion:
People nowadays are more freaked out by unhealthy foods, fast foods, and many more, without checking their liver health. That’s why liver diseases are commonly growing among all ages. As HCV is a liver infection, you should keep track of it by doing proper tests and screenings.
