What
is hepatitis C (HCV)?
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus
(HCV). It is sometimes called non-A and non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis
C is the most common chronic (long lasting) blood borne infection
in the United States.
- 15%-25%
of people infected with hepatitis C have acute (short-term)
hepatitis which means they are able to clear the virus from
their blood within 6 months from the time of infection.
- However,
75%-85% infected with hepatitis C are not able to get rid of
the virus within 6 months and therefore have chronic (long-term)
hepatitis C.
- Though
70% of chronically infected people will get liver disease, less
than 3% will die from liver disease.
- Hepatitis
C is the leading cause for liver transplants.
How
common is hepatitis C?
It is estimated that around 4 million Americans have been infected
with hepatitis C. Some 2.7 million, of those 4 million, have
long term infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) each year there are (estimated) 30,000 new
infections in the United States. Of those new infections, only
20% will have symptoms. That means many people will become infected
with hepatitis C and not know it.
How can I get hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is transmitted (passed) through blood or blood products.
The most common ways are:
- Coming
in contact with hepatitis C-infected blood by sharing needles
or other drug injecting equipment (cookers, cottons, pots, water,
etc). Currently, injection drug use is the most common way to
get hepatitis C.
- Receiving
organ transplants and blood transfusions prior to 1992. In 1992,
blood banks began testing donations for hepatitis C.
- Neonatal
(newborn) transmission; hepatitis C may be passed from an infected
mother to her baby whether the baby is delivered by Caesarean-section
or vaginally. Spreading hepatitis C to a baby through breast
milk has NOT been documented. However, if nipples are cracked
or bleeding, hepatitis C-infected mothers may not want to breastfeed.
- Hepatitis
C has been found in semen (cum) and vaginal secretions (wetness)
and may be transmitted during vaginal or anal sex. Transmission
during sex occurs in up to 20% of hepatitis C cases. Sexual
transmission is even more likely to happen when blood is present.
Some reasons associated with the sexual transmission of hepatitis
C include:
- Sex with
multiple partners
- Presence
of other STDs
- Traumatic
sex (for example, rough sex, rape or sexual abuse)
Transmission
through oral sex has NOT been documented.
What
are the signs or symptoms of hepatitis C?
Most individuals
with hepatitis C do not have symptoms. Liver disease develops
so slowly that a person can have hepatitis C for years without
having symptoms. Many individuals with chronic or long lasting
hepatitis C have mild to moderate liver damage but do not feel
sick. When symptoms are present, they are different for an acute
(short term) infection and a chronic (long term) infection.
ACUTE INFECTION
(short term)
- Often,
people with acute hepatitis C infection are asymptomatic (have
no symptoms).
- Some people
with acute hepatitis C infection have jaundice (yellow skin
and eyes) or mild flu-like symptoms.
CHRONIC
INFECTION (long term)
Most people
with chronic (long lasting) hepatitis C will have only mild to
moderate liver disease. Symptoms of this may include:
- Malaise
(feeling of ill-health)
- Fatigue
(feeling tired all the time)
- Anorexia
(loss of appetite)
- Nausea
(feeling like vomiting)
- Jaundice
(yellow skin and eyes)
If a person
develops cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, symptoms and signs
may be more visible. In addition to those listed above, symptoms
may include muscle weakness, weight loss, itching, dark urine,
and fluid retention.
How
can I find out if I have hepatitis C?
There are
several blood tests that can be given to find out if a person
has hepatitis C. If you think you've been exposed to or infected
with hepatitis C, talk to your health care provider. He or she
may order one test or a combination of tests. You and your health
care provider can discuss whether your sex partner(s) need to
be tested for hepatitis C. Tests will look for antibodies to
the hepatitis virus. Most people with hepatitis C will develop
antibodies (part of a person’s immune system response to
a virus) by 6 months, the average being 8 to 9 weeks after infection…but
it can take up to 12 months.
- People
with hepatitis C should be checked for liver disease and should
discuss treatment with their health care providers. Just how
serious the liver damage is may be determined by:
- Ultrasound
-- detects signs of liver damage and liver cancer
- Liver
Biopsy – detects signs of liver damage and cancer
- Liver
Function Tests -- indicates damage to liver cells.
- None of
the available tests to detect the hepatitis C virus can tell
the difference between acute (short term) and chronic (long
term) infections.
- People
who “clear” the virus from their bodies may still
test positive for hepatitis C anti-bodies for many months.
Testing is
recommended for people in these risk groups:
- People
who ever injected illegal drugs (including those who used drugs
just once many, many years ago).
- People
who were told that they received blood (i.e. in surgery) from
a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
- People
who received blood transfusions or organ transplants before
July 1992.
- Health
care professionals who have come in contact with hepatitis C-infected
blood.
- Children
born to hepatitis C-infected women.
- People
who use/d hemodialysis (a medical process for people with kidney
failure.)
- People
who received clotting factor concentrate before 1987.
What
can I do to reduce my risk of getting hepatitis C?
NON-SEXUAL
- If you
shoot up drugs and can't stop, avoid sharing needles or other
works (i.e. equipment) used to shoot up drugs such as water,
cotton, cookers, spoons, etc. If you choose to share your works,
clean them with a mixture of tap water and bleach to reduce
the risk of getting hepatitis C.
- Avoid sharing
personal objects, such as toothbrushes, razors or other items
that might have blood on them.
- Health
care workers should follow standard precautions when handling
sharps (i.e. needles, etc) and body fluids. They should also
be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
If you know
you have hepatitis C, you can protect OTHERS by:
- NOT donating
blood, body organs, tissue or semen.
- Covering
cuts or sores.
- NOT sharing
personal health items such as razors or toothbrushes.
SEXUAL
- Abstinence
(choosing to not have sex) and mutual monogamy (sex only between
two uninfected partners) provides a high level of protection.
- Latex condoms
provide effective protection during vaginal and anal sex. Condoms
reduce contact with infected bodily fluids (i.e. semen, vaginal
secretions and blood).
- A non-lubricated
latex condom can be used for mouth-to-penis contact. Household
plastic wrap, dental dams or a latex condom cut lengthwise and
opened flat can reduce the risk of transmission during mouth-to-vagina
or mouth-to-anus contact.
Getting vaccinated
against hepatitis A and B will not prevent hepatitis C, but it
will help those who are infected with hepatitis C.
TREATMENT
AFTER EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS C
There is no
shot or medication which can be given once exposed to someone
infected with hepatitis C. There could be drugs available to
reduce the chance of having a chronic or long-term infection.
Talk to your health care provider for more information.
What
is the treatment for hepatitis C?
Treatment for hepatitis C varies depending on whether the infection
is acute (short term) or chronic (long term) and the stage of
illness.
Why
worry about hepatitis C?
- The majority
of people with hepatitis C have some sort of mild or moderate
liver damage. Some have such serious damage that they have cirrhosis
(liver scarring), liver failure, liver cancer or need a liver
transplant because of hepatitis C.
- People
infected with hepatitis C are at risk for chronic (long lasting)
liver disease or other hepatitis C-related chronic diseases
for at least 20 years after being infected.
- Complications
from hepatitis C cause 8,000 to 10,000 deaths per year.
Do
I need to talk to my partner about hepatitis C?
Yes. Good
partner communication is important in a relationship. While hepatitis
C is more likely to be spread through sharing drug needles and
works, it can be transmitted through sexual contact. If you or
your partner uses street drugs or any illegal drug that require
a needle, you could be at risk of getting hepatitis C.
Should I talk to my health care provider
about hepatitis C?
Yes. Speak to your health care provider if you have:
- shared
a drug needle in the past, even once.
- received
a blood product or transfusion prior to 1992.
- had unprotected
sex with someone who has hepatitis C.
- had kidney
dialysis.
- received
notice that you received blood from a donor who later tested
positive for hepatitis C.
If you have
hepatitis C you can protect your liver by:
- not drinking
alcohol, because it may cause further damage to the liver.
- seeing
your health care provider regularly
- not beginning
to take any new medicines, including over-the-counter or herbal
ones, without talking to your health care provider.
- getting
vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Where
can I get more information? If you have additional questions
about hepatitis C, call the National STD and AIDS Hotlines at 1-800-342-2437
or 1-800-227-8922. The hotlines are open 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. For information in Spanish call 1-800-344-7432, 8:00
a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern Time, seven days a week. For the Deaf
and Hard-of-Hearing call 1-800-243-7889, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. The hotlines provide referrals
and more answers to your questions.
For more information
about the hepatitis A and B vaccine, call the National Immunization Information Hotline
at 1-800-232-2522 or 1-800-232-0233 for information in Spanish.
The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00
p.m., Eastern Time. For the Deaf and Hard-of Hearing Call 1-800-243-7889,
10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Other Resources
CDC’s
Division of Viral Hepatitis
CDC’s
National Immunization Program
American Liver Foundation
Immunization
Action Coalition (IAC)
Parents
of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKID
