Hepatitis C

The Scary Truth About Hepatitis C Symptoms

In the United States, the most common blood-borne infection and a major cause of liver damage is hepatitis C or HCV. It is responsible for 8,000 to 10,000 deaths in the United States annually because people can have the disease for years without knowing it. By the time hepatitis C symptoms are exhibited, serious damage to the liver may have already occurred. In this article, we'll explain how this disease is transmitted and its effects on the body.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that can cause liver inflammation. Infections of hepatitis C occur only if the virus is able to enter the blood stream and reach the liver. About half of all people who develop hepatitis C never fully recover and can carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Although the disease damages the liver, 80% of infected people do not experience symptoms. Of those who do, symptoms may not appear for decades. Even then, the symptoms are infrequent and mild. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the abnormal liver disease can be quite serious. A minority of people have symptoms during the early acute phase of the infection. These symptoms typically develop 5-12 weeks after exposure to HCV. Some people describe the symptoms as being flu-like and may last a few weeks or months.

Chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver disease cirrhosis, which is a condition traditionally associated with alcoholism. Cirrhosis is a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue, followed by scar-like hardening. Eventually, hepatitis C symptoms will develop and could eventually result in acute liver failure. Symptoms of cirrhosis include fluid retention causing swelling of the belly (ascites), legs, or whole body, persistent jaundice, fatigue, disturbances in sleeping, itchy skin, weight loss, vomiting with blood in the vomit, and mental disturbances such as confusion, lethargy, extreme sleepiness, or hallucinations (hepatic encephalopathy). Largest STD Dating Service - free STD ads, h. message boards, international search and instant messenger for those who living with Herpes, HIV/AIDS, Thrush or other STDs.

Not all people infected with HCV require or respond to treatment. Treatment is usually considered for people who have had elevated liver function tests for at least three months and also have liver inflammation or cirrhosis confirmed by a liver biopsy. People who have little or no liver damage as confirmed by a liver biopsy may not develop severe liver damage. They may choose not to have treatment right away, and instead opt to have doctors monitor their condition with regular blood tests and a liver biopsy every three to five years. When symptoms do appear, doctors recommend that patients get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, abstain from alcohol, avoid medicines and substances that can cause harm to the liver, such as Tylenol and other preparations that contain acetaminophen, and avoid prolonged, vigorous exercise until symptoms start to improve.

The real danger of this disease is that hepatitis C symptoms may not show up for decades after infection and the body may incur damage without the carrier even knowing it. It is believed that about 20% of the patients with chronic hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis, and a few of those will go on to develop liver cancer. It may take from 10 to 40 years for serious liver damage to occur. If you have been at risk of contracting hepatitis C, then you should consult your physician for a test as soon as possible.

   Hepatitis C Info You Need