Hepatitis C - An Introduction

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that mainly lives in blood. It can only be passed on if tiny amounts of blood get into someone’s bloodstream.

The most common way for this to happen is through sharing contaminated injecting equipment or through unscreened blood transfusions (blood products have been screened for HCV in this country since September 1991).

Hepatitis simply means ‘inflamed liver’. Hepatitis C can attack the liver, which is one of the largest organs in the body. The liver has many functions, including helping to process food and toxins. If someone has HCV the liver may not be able to perform those functions properly.

Hepatitis C has only been known about since 1989. We know a certain amount about the virus, but it is common to receive conflicting information.

The Effects of Hepatitis C

Many people with Hepatitis C feel well. Others report a variety of symptoms, some of which can be caused by other things. Depression, for instance, is common in people with a physical illness.Symptoms can include:

These symptoms are commonly reported and may not be directly related to Hepatitis C or liver damage.

If you know you have Hepatitis C and develop these symptoms, however, you should consult your doctor, reminding them of your condition. This is confidential information and should only be told to people who need to know.

What does Hepatitis C do?

Some people with Hepatitis C recover fully. Others, however, will develop chronic infection. This means it continues over time and could cause serious liver damage.

Many people may be unaware of their status, as they may not experience symptoms.

Liver inflammation is fairly common for people who have had Hepatitis C infections for a number of years. At this stage, it is important to be in regular contact with a consultant, who will be able to assess liver damage by undertaking a liver biopsy (sample of the liver) and carrying out regular blood tests. Ideally, you should be linked in with either a Gastroenterologist or a Hepatologist, and you should also have access to a Nurse Specialist, who should be able to answer any questions you may have.

Treatment for Hepatitis C is an option for some people. Treatment involves taking a combination of 2 drugs, one of which you will have to inject. This usually lasts between 6 months to a year. The treatment can clear the virus and alleviate symptoms for some, and prevent further liver damage. It does, however, cause side effects for the majority of people. You may be eligible for treatment, but factors such as age, current drug or alcohol use, mental health and gender may affect this decision.

If the liver is inflamed for a long time, it develops permanent scarring. Cirrhosis is a condition that describes complete scarring of the liver. This can take years to develop and will not affect everyone with chronic Hepatitis C. Cirrhosis prevents blood flowing freely through the liver and may lead to liver cancer.