Question

What are the modes of transmission, main signs and symptoms and treatments of hepatitis C?

Answer 1

Hepatitis C is transmitted from one person to another through blood or blood products that are infected with the virus. Modern screening tests have almost eliminated the transmission of hepatitis C through blood products (e.g., transfusions). Today the main way hepatitis C is spread is through contaminated drug needles.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through blood and can be transmitted in the following ways:

• Sharing needles while using illegal street drugs.
• Using non-sterile instruments and needles for tattooing and body piercing.
• Receiving organs (such as a kidney, liver, or pancreas) from a donor who is infected with HCV. However, organ donors in Canada and the US are screened for HCV infection, so the risk of being infected with the virus after an organ transplant is low.
• Blood transfusion, which used to be a major way that HCV was spread. But today, screening tests are performed on all donated blood so this cause has almost been eliminated.
• Sharing personal care items such as razors, scissors, nail clippers, or a toothbrush with an infected person.

When HCV first infects the body, it is referred to as the acute phase. In the acute phase, some people experience symptoms such as tiredness and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Other symptoms such as headache, fever, and abdominal pain may also occur. However, many people experience no symptoms during this acute phase of infection.

·         About 80% of people infected with hepatitis C will develop a chronic infection. Since it progresses slowly, symptoms of chronic hepatitis can take up to 20 or 30 years to appear. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C can include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, and joint pain.

·         Long-term complications of HCV infection include liver cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer. Although it may take many years to develop, 10% to 20% of people who have hepatitis C will develop liver cirrhosis, and of these people, 1% to 5% will develop liver cancer.

·         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 3 months and also have liver inflammation or cirrhosis confirmed by a 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.

·         Many factors need consideration when deciding on treatment. Your doctor will help you decide which and if treatment is right for you.

·         There are several treatment options for chronic hepatitis, including medications and liver transplant.

·         Since the introduction of new antiviral medications in 2013, the treatment of HCV infection has evolved. The cure rates of hepatitis C have increased significantly. Antiviral therapy may also help slow the progression of liver damage or reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

·         People with HCV need to get blood tests to guide medication therapy before starting treatment. Which therapy is useddepends on the genetic type of HCV that is causing the infection. These types are referred to as genotypes. The most common genotypes are 1, 2, and 3. Depending on the type of HCV a person has, and the extent of liver damage, the length of treatment can vary.

·         The side effects of antiviral medications may include flu-like symptoms, anemia, fever, fatigue, headaches, weight loss, nausea, skin rashes, and muscle or bone pain.

·         If the liver is severely damaged due to hepatitis C, a liver transplant may be required.