Jan 31, 2010 Lisa Smith

Before Hep C – Carnival Cruise PhotoA person can harbor the disease of hepatitis C for 30 years without knowing it. Learn what to look for. A simple blood test will show evidence. Avoid getting hep C.

Hepatitis C is a blood borne disease and virus. Usually, it is spread by way of a dirty needle. it is also related to cirrhosis of the liver. Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection is most common among people who are 40 to 60 years of age, reflecting the high rates of infection in the 1970s and 1980s.

Anyone who has ever come in contact with a dirty needle, especially common in drug use, should have a blood test screening for hepatitis C. The virus may also be transmitted through accidental needle sticks with infected blood in the medical field. However, since 1992, hepatitis C has been screened in all blood donations, thus blood transfusions are no longer a cause of spreading the infection

Hepatitis C is not related to the other hepatitis viruses, A and B.

Cirrhosis of the Liver Due to Hepatitis C

Usually the first indication a person has been infected with hepatitis C, or any other liver damage, is elevated liver enzymes in a simple blood test. Of course, by the time it shows up in a blood test, liver damage is already present. this is why it is important to have a blood test to screen for hepatitis, if one has been exposed to the virus or has used intravenous drugs. even if one has only had a few experiences using needles with drugs, being screened for hepatitis is strongly advised.

Once cirrhosis of the liver is present, it is the end stage of hepatitis C. it may take 20 to 30 years before any symptoms are evident, and when they are, it is the cirrhosis of the liver, which provides the symptoms.

Drinking a lot of coffee daily helps clean the liver, which also aids in prolonging the onset of any symptoms. Drinking alcohol, however, can bring on symptoms sooner. Alcohol scars the liver, causing cirrhosis of the liver. The inflammation caused by the hepatitis results in cirrhosis over time, without the presence of alcohol. even a casual drinker, who only has an occasional drink, needs to abstain from drinking any alcohol, if diagnosed with hepatitis.

What are the Treatments?

The liver’s main function is to purify the blood. Consequently, the liver is always renewing itself. that is why the hepatitis C virus usually lies dormant for 20 or 30 years.

There are antidotal medications and treatments , which have grueling side effects and are difficult to get through. However, they are successful in keeping the disease from advancing, or at bay. Treatments for one at the end-stage of the disease may include paracentesis, which is large needle aspiration, of ascites, diuretics, and the protein albumin. The damaged liver is no longer able to produce enough albumin, which is needed to prevent low blood volume.

Another treatment, of the condition of end-stage hepatitis C is the banding of the enlarged varices, from the esophagus to stomach.

Of course, liver transplant is a treatment, but it is often difficult process to get a patient healthy enough for the surgery, and often proves too difficult.

What are the Symptoms?

These end-stage treatments are usually only involved in acute cases of hepatitis C. Acute cases, are often the result of years of denial of the subtle symptoms, or not so subtle symptoms. In these cases, patients usually die within a couple of months of serious symptoms, like massive swelling of the legs and abdominal cavity. In the after photo below, the patient is wearing size 4X pants. The fluid building up in the body, is ascites.

The majority of the time, the symptoms may be so mild, that one hardly pays attention to them. General fatigue is the most commonly ignored symptom. this will often advance to depression. Loss of appetite and weight loss occur as the disease progress.

Yellowing of the eyes (jaundice) is a common symptom which is often ignored.

Swelling of the ankles is often the first symptom to get one’s attention. The swelling, however, is an indication of advanced disease. There is still time to treat the disease, however, and a doctor should be consulted immediately to decide the best course of treatment.

medicinenet.com Hepatitis C (accessed January 28, 2010)

• Before Hep C – Carnival Cruise Photo

• After Hep C – Lisa M. Smith

• What Jaundice Looks like in Skin – Lisa M. Smith