Hepatitis C Symptoms and Causes

This infection of the liver is caused by the liver disease C infection. About 3.5 million people in the United States have the disease. But it causes few symptoms, so the majority of them do not know.

There are lots of forms of the liver disease C virus. The most common in the United States is type 1. None is more serious than other, however they react in a different way to treatment.

What are the Symptoms Hepatitis C?

Lots of people with hepatitis have no symptoms. However you could observe these:

jaundice (a condition that causes yellow eyes and skin, as well as dark urine)
stomach pain
loss of appetite

nausea
tiredness.

What are the Causes Hepatitis C?

Liver disease C infection is caused by the liver disease C infection. The infection spreads out when blood contaminated with the virus goes into the bloodstream of an uninfected individual.

Globally, HCV exists in a number of unique types, called genotypes. The most common HCV genotype in North America and Europe is type 1. Type 2 likewise happens in the United States and Europe, but is less common than type 1.

Information verified by the iythealth.com team.

Both type 1 and type 2 have likewise spread out through much of the world, although other genotypes cause a bulk of infections in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Although chronic liver disease C follows a similar course no matter the genotype of the infecting infection, treatment suggestions differ depending upon viral genotype.

How Do You Get It?

The virus spreads out through the blood or body fluids of an infected person.

You can catch it from:

Sharing drugs and needles.

Having sex, especially if you have an STD, an HIV infection or have rough sex.
Being stuck by infected needles.
Birth– a mom can pass it to a child.

Are a healthcare worker who has actually been exposed to infected blood, which may occur if an infected needle pierces your skin.
Have ever injected or breathed in illicit drugs.
Have HIV.

Gotten a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992.
Gotten hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time.
Were ever in jail.

Were born in between 1945 and 1965, the age group with the greatest occurrence of hepatitis C infection.

Liver disease C isn’t really spread through food, water, or by casual contact.

How Diagnose Hepatitis C?

You can get a blood test to see if you have the liver disease C virus.

Are There Any Long-Term Effects?

Yes. About 75% to 85% of individuals who have it develop a long-lasting infection called chronic liver disease C. It can result in conditions like liver cancer and cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. This is one of the leading factors individuals get liver transplants.

What are Treatments for Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C treatments have altered a lot in recent years. In January 2016, the FDA provided approval to a once-daily pill mix of elbasvir and grazoprevir called Zepatier. It has been revealed to have the ability to treat the disease in nearly 100% of those treated.

It follows the success of another once-daily treatment called Harvoni that treatments the disease in most people in 8-12 weeks. Harvoni integrates two drugs: sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) and ledipasvir. In medical trials, the most typical side effects in both drugs were tiredness and headache.

Other relatively recent drugs are ombitasvir-paritaprevir-dasabuvir-ritonavir (Viekira Pak), ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir (Technivie) and daclastasvir (Daklinza) which do not need interferon and treat more individuals in less time. Ombitasvir-paritaprevir-dasabuvir-ritonavir and ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir bring an FDA warning of severe liver injury if given to somebody with underlying severe liver disease. All these medications are rather costly.

Rather, your doctor might suggest a mix of boceprevir (Victrelis), simeprevir (Olysio), sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), or ), or telaprevir (Incivek) with interferon (which you take by injection), and ribavirin (which comes as a liquid, tablet, or capsule).

Interferon and ribavirin used to be the primary treatments for liver disease C. They can have side effects like fatigue, flu-like symptoms, anemia, skin rash, mild anxiety, depression, queasiness, and diarrhea.

Your treatment will depend upon many things including what type of liver disease C infection you have. In the U.S., the most common type is genotype 1, followed by genotypes 2 and 3. Genotypes 4,5, and 6 are very rare in the U.S. Your doctor will help you find out what’s right for you, based on your medical needs.