hep africa.org

Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver. Liver damage typically occurs slowly over 20-30 years and can lead to liver scarring and potentially, to liver cancer or liver failure. It often remains symptomless for many years. The main symptoms if experienced, are fatigue, pain in the liver area, digestive problems and flu-like symptoms. The presence or absence of symptoms is no indication as to how much damage the virus is causing to the liver. This has led hepatitis C to be termed ‘The Silent Killer’. 

Unlike hepatitis B, there is no vaccine to prevent people from becoming infected. The hepatitis C virus is spread through direct contact with infected blood. The major ways of coming into contact with infected blood are:

• receiving blood clotting factors for haemophiliacs before heat treatment was introduced; 

• sharing equipment for injecting drugs; 

• medical or dental interventions in countries where equipment is not adequately sterilised; 

• sharing straws, notes etc. for snorting cocaine (cocaine is particularly alkaline and corrosive); 

• sharing razors, toothbrushes or other household articles; 

• tattooing and body piercing if done using unsterile equipment; and

• a mother infecting a baby at birth.

Many people who are infected with hepatitis C experience no symptoms at all, making it common that many remain unaware of the disease until they happen to be screened (for example, when donating blood). Others do experience symptoms but mistake them as signs of a cold or flu. The most common symptoms of a new infection of hepatitis C last about 6 months and include: 

• fatigue

• anxiety or depression

• tenderness on the right side of the abdomen

• loss of appetite

• jaundice

• nausea and vomiting

• muscle and joint pain 

• itching

Not everyone who is infected by the hepatitis C virus will have chronic hepatitis C. Some individuals will clear the virus from their bodies within six months. Unfortunately, the majority will remain infected unless they can eliminate the virus using treatment. 

The damage that chronic hepatitis C does to the body takes time, progressing slowly over many years during this time very few patients have any symptoms. Approximately 20% of patients with chronic hepatitis C will very gradually over 20 or more years develop a condition called cirrhosis (scaring of the liver tissue) resulting in severe damage to the liver and then the above symptoms start to re emerge. Individuals with severely damaged livers are at risk for liver cancer or liver failure. This occurs in 10% of patients. 

The virus can be diagnosed by a simple blood test. Doctors also perform additional liver function tests and liver ultrasound scans to determine the extent of liver damage.