Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Is Hepatitis C Life Threatening

What You Should Know

What is Hepatitis C and Why Should You Care?

In the United States, hepatitis C virus is the most common chronic blood-borne infection, the most common cause of chronic liver disease contributing to progressive liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is the most frequent cause for liver transplantation. Learn more

HCV infection can be detected by anti-HCV screening tests 4-10 weeks after infection. Anti-HCV can be detected in > 97% of persons by 6 months after exposure. Learn more

Whats The Outlook For Hep C Thats Developed Into Cirrhosis Or Liver Cancer

Hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis, especially if left untreated. Without treatment, cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer and liver failure.

Treating cirrhosis and liver cancer typically requires a liver transplant. A transplant can cure both cancer and liver function impairment. But a transplant is only available for a small number of people.

How Is Hepatitis Diagnosed

The first step in diagnosing a hepatitis infection is to receive a medical exam from your doctor. The doctor will perform a physical to look for signs of the illness. All the varieties of hepatitis present with a very similar set of symptoms, which includes:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

You may also experience jaundice or a yellowing of the skin and eyes and bowel movements that appear gray. Michael says, Fortunately, most patients are asymptomatic. If you have hepatitis B and its an active condition, meaning youre sick from it, your skin and eyes are going to have a yellow tint.

The doctor will look for these telltale signs and then order blood work to spot the viral load for the type of hepatitis and whether the infection is dormant or active. If the virus is active, you are contagious. The blood test can also determine if the infection is acute or chronic .

If the blood test confirms hepatitis, the doctor may also order an ultrasound of the liver to see if it is inflamed. The ultrasound should also show if the liver is scarred with cirrhosis. You may also have a CT or MRI to look more closely at the liver or signs of liver cancer. This is especially important if you have a family history of the disease.

Finally, in the unusual event that the imaging tests arent shedding light on the situation, the clinician may order a liver biopsy.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Hepatitis A

People With Hepatitis C Can Help Protect Others From Getting The Virus

People with hepatitis C are advised not to share personal items that could have even tiny amounts of blood on them, says Graham. This includes toothbrushes, razors, and clippers, which should be kept in a separate kit so that nobody accidentally uses them.

If you or a loved one has hepatitis C, clean up any spilled blood right away with a solution of bleach and water. Cover blisters or cuts with bandages, and carefully dispose of anything with blood on it, like bandages or tampons, the ALF advises.

Can You Die From Hepatitis C

Issues With Hepatitis C And Alcohol Can Be A Significant Health Risk

Complications from untreated hepatitis C, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, can be fatal, though HCV itself is rarely fatal.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , people who develop cirrhosis from HCV have a

more than half of people with an HCV infection will develop chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is long term and can lead to permanent cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Chronic hepatitis C usually has no symptoms. People with chronic hepatitis C may not even know they have it. But once symptoms appear, it means that damage to the liver has already begun.

Recommended Reading: Anti Hepatitis B Virus Drugs

Who Should Be Tested For Hepatitis C

  • All people born between 1945 and 1965
  • Anyone who has ever injected drugs, even if once or many years ago
  • People with HIV infection
  • People who had a blood transfusion organ transplantation before 1992
  • People who have been exposed to blood on the job through a needle stick or other injury
  • People receiving hemodialysis
  • People who have abnormal liver tests or liver disease

Hepatitis C: Deadly And Now Treatable

Without treatment, Hepatitis C can lead to liver failure and death. If you are a baby boomer born between 1945-1965, there is a significant possibility you have the disease. Dr. Robin Kim talks about Hep C, why all boomers should get tested as soon as possible, and about two new recently developed drugs that are very effective at treating Hepatitis C.

Announcer: Medical news and research from University Utah physicians and specialists you can use for a happier and healthier life. You’re listening to The Scope.

Kim: Hepatitis C virus is a liver disease that has become the forefront of health care attention and resources. The CDC has mandated that patients or baby boomers who were born from 1945-1965 should all get a single hepatitis C virus test because the preponderance of hepatitis C in that population of the United States is upwards of eight-fold or ten-fold larger just by virtue of the fact that those baby boomers were subjected to behaviors that were high risk. This mandate was brought up by the CDC in April this year. Our primary care providers are supposed to enact that mandate by testing our baby boomers once. And so this is a good time to talk about hepatitis C. In addition, hepatitis C is a disease which research is developing huge gains in terms of managing in and so over the next few months we will see two new drugs, anti-viral drugs specifically designed to treat hepatitis C, and this is a huge difference in terms of hep C strategies that we didn’t have.

Also Check: Hepatitis C Causes Symptoms And Treatment

Which Is Worse Hepatitis B Or C

The scary thing about liver conditions like hepatitis is that you may be living with it and not even be aware.

Less than half of the people living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C are diagnosed. If you are one of these people living with an undetected case of hepatitis, you may be at risk for developing liver failure or liver cancer and transmitting the illness to other people.

What are the most common hepatitis infections? Is hepatitis B worse than hepatitis C? How is hepatitis detected and treated? Michael D. Cook, certified physician assistant at Gastroenterology Associates of Southwest Florida answers these questions and can help you understand the risks of hepatitis.

Hcv And Hcv Rna Detection Assays

Universal Hepatitis C Treatment

HCV is a positive-strand RNA virus that belongs to the Hepacivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae. Its 9.6-kb-long genome encodes a polyprotein of almost 3000 amino acids flanked by two untranslated regions, that is, 3- and 5-UTR. HCV isolates are categorized into six genotypes with 3035% sequence variability with further variation within subtypes. HCV genotypes are essentially geographically distributed. Approximately 150 million people worldwide suffer from chronic HCV infection, and about 30% of those will develop cirrhosis and potentially HCC . There is no prophylaxic vaccine yet available, which is one of main reasons why HCV infection remains of a global concern.

Figure 6.2. Typical serological and molecular profiles of HCV infection. Acute HCV infection with recovery. After resolution of clinical evident acute hepatitis C, HCV RNA can remain detectable at very low levels for the prolonged period of time. Chronic HCV infection. Colored lines indicate relative levels of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA detected in serum or plasma. The lowest sensitivity limits of HCV RNA detection based on standard clinical or research assays are indicated by dashed black lines.

Table 6.3. Assays for HCV RNA Detection and Quantification

Assay

William B. Coleman, Gregory J. Tsongalis, in, 2020

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Some People Dont Know They Have Hepatitis C Until They Have Liver Damage

In some cases, by the time you have hepatitis C symptoms, life-threatening damage has already occurred, Graham says. Of every 100 people with a chronic hepatitis C infection, 5 to more than 20 will eventually develop cirrhosis, a scarring of the liver that interferes with its ability to fight infections and help digest food, according to a 2017 study in the journal Liver International.

Symptoms of liver damage and end-stage hepatitis C disease include jaundice, extreme fatigue, weight loss, weakness, severely itchy skin, confusion, and a buildup of abdominal fluid.

What Are The Types Of Hepatitis

The three most common types of hepatitis in the United States are A, B, and C, but there are five types in total. All of these forms of hepatitis target the livers ability to function. Here are the differences between them:

  • Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus, which spreads through the blood and stool of people infected by the virus.
  • Hepatitis B is also caused by a virus spread through bodily fluids from an infected person however, it can be prevented through the use of vaccines.
  • Hepatitis C is also a viral form of hepatitis. It can be short-term or long-term. As a chronic infection, it can cause life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer.
  • Hepatitis D, also known as delta hepatitis, only occurs concurrently within people who also have the hepatitis B virus.
  • Hepatitis E,though not particularly common in the United States, can spread from eating raw or undercooked pork, shellfish, or wild game.

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Causes Of Hepatitis C

You can become infected with hepatitis C if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.

Other bodily fluids can also contain the virus, but blood contains the highest level of it. Just a small trace of blood can cause an infection. At room temperature, it’s thought the virus may be able survive outside the body in patches of dried blood on surfaces for up to several weeks.

The main ways you can become infected with the hepatitis C virus are described below.

All Baby Boomers Need To Be Tested For Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Test

People born between 1945 and 1965 are five times more likely to have hepatitis C than other adults, according to the CDC. Many of them were infected during the 1960s to 1980s from contaminated blood, or blood products like those used to treat hemophilia, before widespread screening for the virus began.

Recommended Reading: How Do People Get Hepatitis B

Complications Of Hepatitis C

If the infection is left untreated for many years, some people with hepatitis C will develop scarring of the liver .

Over time, this can cause the liver to stop working properly.

In severe cases, life-threatening problems, such as liver failure, where the liver loses most or all of its functions, or liver cancer, can eventually develop.

Treating hepatitis C as early as possible can help reduce the risk of these problems happening.

Living With Hepatitis: Dont Be Afraid

Dr Zhang*, a village doctor in Henan province in central China, knows first-hand how destructive hepatitis can be. His father died of liver cancer, most likely caused by undiagnosed hepatitis. Dr Zhang himself was born before hepatitis B vaccination was widely available and was not immunized against hepatitis B either at birth or as a child. He went on to develop a serious hepatitis B-related illness as an adult.

Babies infected at birth, as Dr Zhang may have been, have a much greater risk of a lifetime of chronic liver infections. The World Health Organization now recommends all children be vaccinated within 24 hours of birth, followed by 1-2 more doses within the first 12 months of life.

Dr Zhangs hepatitis went undiagnosed until well into his adult life when he became seriously sick with liver disease. Fortunately, he was able to travel to Beijing to access good medical care, including a course of the antiviral drug, entecavir. Following treatment, Dr Zhangs liver function returned to normal and the village doctor is now in good health.

Viral hepatitis is an insidious disease and a major public health threat globally. It is the leading cause of cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. In China, there are around 90 million people living with chronic hepatitis B, and almost 10 million people living with hepatitis C making China alone home to 25% of the worlds chronic viral hepatitis cases.

*Not his real name.

Recommended Reading: What Is Stage 3 Hepatitis C

When To Seek Medical Advice

See your GP if you persistently have any of the later symptoms above, or if they keep returning. They may recommend having a blood test that can check for hepatitis C. Read more about diagnosing hepatitis C.

None of the symptoms above mean you definitely have hepatitis C, but it’s important to get them checked out.

You should also speak to your GP about getting tested if there’s a risk you’re infected, even if you don’t have any symptoms. This particularly includes people who inject drugs or have done so in the past.

Read about the causes of hepatitis C for more information about who’s at risk of having the infection.

Viral Hepatitis Services Locator

Wear the Gown: Hepatitis C Risks and Symptoms

The New Jersey Department of Health Hepatitis Services Locator is an interactive directory for finding free or low cost publicly-funded hepatitis services, including vaccination, testing, and treatment.

to report updated information or add a new publicly-funded service.

Note: The NJDOH Hepatitis Services Locator is for publicly-funded sites only. Some sites may have eligibility requirements.

Also Check: Does Hepatitis Affect The Liver

Virus Assembly And Release

Although late stages in the virus life cycle should also provide attractive targets for intervention, progress is lagging, as experimental systems for studying assembly and release are recent developments . Virus assembly and release is a tightly regulated process coupled to host cell lipid synthesis 25. After cleavage, first by signal peptidase and subsequently by signal peptide peptidase, the mature core protein relocates from ER membranes to cytoplasmic lipid droplets 123,124, assisted by diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 125. The current model for nucleocapsid formation involves interaction of core with NS5A, either on cLDs, whereto NS5A is also directed by DGAT1 via its N-terminal amphipathic -helix, or after translocation from the mobile cLDs to the ER83,126,127. Delivery of the HCV genome RNA to sites of nucleocapid assembly is still poorly understood but is probably facilitated by the close juxtaposition of sites of RNA replication and virion assembly25 and by NS2-coordinated virion assembly through interactions with the glycoproteins, p7, NS3 and NS5A73,74. A series of signal and stop-transfer sequences orchestrate ER translocation of the E1 and E2 glycoproteins, which assume a type I membrane protein topology. After folding, heterodimer formation and addition of N-linked sugars, the E1-E2 glycans are then trimmed by glycosidases I and II .

Sharing Toothbrushes Scissors And Razors

There’s a potential risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors and scissors, as they can become contaminated with infected blood.

Equipment used by hairdressers, such as scissors and clippers, can pose a risk if it has been contaminated with infected blood and not been sterilised or cleaned between customers. However, most salons operate to high standards, so this risk is low.

Recommended Reading: Can You Treat Hepatitis B

How Can I Prevent Hepatitis C

Since there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, the best way to prevent hepatitis C infection is to avoid contact with the blood of infected people. This includes:

  • If you shoot drugs, never share works with anyone. This includes all drug injection equipment that can get blood on or in it . Sterile syringes can be purchased over the counter in most pharmacies in Massachusetts by anyone 18 years of age or older. Find out about drug treatment programs that can help you stop using drugs.
  • Only get tattoos or body piercings at places using sterile equipment and supplies.
  • Never share razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
  • The risk of sexual transmission is low, but use of latex condoms during vaginal or anal sex will reduce the risk even more

Blood Donations Before September 1991

Wellness Lab Health Info: How to Know If You Have Hepatitis C

Since September 1991, all blood donated in the UK is checked for the hepatitis C virus.

There’s a small chance you may have been infected with hepatitis C if:

  • you received a blood transfusion or blood products before September 1991
  • you received an organ transplant before 1992

Before 1992 donated organs were not routinely screened for hepatitis C and there is a very small risk a donated organ from someone with hepatitis C could spread the infection.

There are blood tests to check for hepatitis C infection

Also Check: What Are The Side Effects Of Hepatitis B

How Can I Cover Medication Costs

New therapies called direct-acting antivirals are effective and can achieve cures of over 90%. Because these new therapies are very new, they remain very expensive. As such, drug coverage from both government and private companies may require that your liver disease has progressed to a certain stage before they are willing to cover the cost of these drugs.

Talk with your healthcare provider about financial support that may be available.

Below are useful resources when looking for financial assistance:Private health insurance or drug plansIf you have private health insurance or a drug plan at work, you may be able to have the medication paid through your plan. Please consult your private health insurance or drug plan provider to see if your drug is covered.

Publicly funded plansEach provincial and territorial government offers a drug benefit plan for eligible groups. Some are income-based universal programs. Most have specific programs for population groups that may require more enhanced coverage for high drug costs. These groups include seniors, recipients of social assistance, and individuals with diseases or conditions that are associated with high drug costs. For more details, please contact your provincial or territorial health care ministry, or click on the appropriate link below.

Yukon

Available Patient Assistance Programs for Hepatitis C treatment Holkira Pak Maviret

MerckCare Hepatitis C Program 1 872-5773 Zepatier

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