Treatment of cirrhosis depends on the progression of the condition. Chronic hepatitis C can cause serious long-term health consequences. End-stage hepatitis C occurs when the liver is severely damaged and can no longer function properly. People with cirrhosis may also experience bleeding in the esophagus, as well as brain and nervous system damage. A liver transplant is the only treatment for end-stage liver disease. Because the disease recurs, treatment of the viral infection usually follows transplant surgery.
Because alcohol is processed in the liver, consumption of excess alcohol can hasten liver damage. Damage also progresses faster in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV. Men with cirrhosis tend to progress faster than women with the condition. Additionally, people over 40 with cirrhosis progress at a faster rate than younger people. If you think you have hepatitis C at any stage, consult with your doctor.
Early detection and treatment is the best way to prevent and treat any serious complications or progression. Hepatitis C treatments are costly, but can lead to undetectable viral loads — at which point a person is considered cured. Learn how to manage your…. The risk is also increased if there are genital sores or ulcers from a sexually transmitted infection , or if either person also has HIV. The best way to prevent transmission of hepatitis C through sex is to use a male condom or female condom.
However, as the risk is very low for couples in a long-term relationship, many choose not to use a condom. Since September , all blood donated in the UK is checked for the hepatitis C virus. If you received blood transfusions or blood products before this date, there's a small possibility you may have been infected with hepatitis C.
If you have a blood transfusion or medical or dental treatment overseas where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, you may become infected with hepatitis C. The virus can survive in traces of blood left on equipment.
There's a potential risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors and scissors, as they can become contaminated with infected blood. Equipment used by hairdressers, such as scissors and clippers, can pose a risk if it has been contaminated with infected blood and not been sterilised or cleaned between customers.
However, most salons operate to high standards, so this risk is low. There is a risk that hepatitis C may be passed on through using tattooing or body piercing equipment that has not been properly sterilised. However, most tattoo and body piercing parlours in the UK operate to high standards and are regulated by law, so this risk is low. There is a small chance that a mother who is infected with the hepatitis C virus will pass the infection on to her baby. There's a small approximately one in 30 risk of getting hepatitis C if your skin is accidentally punctured by a needle used by someone with hepatitis C.
Healthcare workers, nurses and laboratory technicians are at increased risk because they are in regular close contact with blood and bodily fluids that may contain blood.
If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C, taking a test will put your mind at rest or, if the test is positive, allow you to start treatment early. GP surgeries , sexual health clinics , GUM genitourinary medicine clinics or drug treatment services all offer testing for hepatitis C. A variety of sexual health and social support third sector services also provide testing.
You can check here to find one in your area. You should consider getting tested for hepatitis C if you're worried you could have been infected or you fall into one of the groups at an increased risk of being infected.
If you continue to engage in high-risk activities, such as injecting drugs frequently, regular testing may be recommended. Your doctor will be able to advise you about this. Hepatitis C is usually diagnosed using 2 blood tests : the antibody test and the PCR test. These can be as part of a routine blood test or are often combined as a dried blood spot test. The dried blood spot test is similar to a blood sugar test in pricking the finger to get a blood spot that is put on a testing card.
This is then sent to a laboratory to be tested. Another similar test is an antigen test, which if used can often get the results back in 90 minutes. This is very expensive and not many services have access to the machine needed.
The antibody blood test determines whether you have ever been exposed to the hepatitis C virus by testing for the presence of antibodies to the virus.
Antibodies are produced by your immune system to fight germs. The test will not show a positive reaction for some months after infection because your body takes time to make these antibodies. If the test is negative, but you have symptoms or you may have been exposed to hepatitis C, you may be advised to have the test again.
A positive test indicates that you have been infected at some stage. It doesn't necessarily mean you are currently infected, as you may have since cleared the virus from your body.
The only way to tell if you are currently infected is to have a second blood test, called a PCR test. The PCR blood test checks if the virus is still present by detecting whether it is reproducing inside your body. A positive test means that your body has not fought off the virus, and the infection has progressed to a chronic long-term stage. If you have an active hepatitis C infection, you will be referred to a specialist for further tests to check if your liver has been damaged.
The specialist can also talk to you about any treatment you may need. Read more about treating hepatitis C. However, it's important to be aware that you won't be immune to the infection and should take steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected again. If the infection is diagnosed in the early stages, known as acute hepatitis, treatment may not need to begin straight away.
Instead, you may have another blood test after a few months to see if your body fights off the virus. If the infection continues for several months, known as chronic hepatitis, treatment will usually be recommended. You'll normally need to take medication for weeks. This length of time will depend on the exact medicines you're taking and which version strain of the hepatitis C virus you have.
Your doctor will advise you about this. There are 6 main strains of the virus. In the UK, the most common strains are known as "genotype 1" and "genotype 3". During treatment, you should have blood tests to check if your medication is working. There are some things you can do to help limit or even undo any damage to your liver and before you start treatment you can prevent the infection spreading to others. These can include:. Read some FAQs about living with hepatitis C for more information.
Until relatively recently, treatment for chronic hepatitis C usually involved taking 2 main medicines:. There are now a number of new medicines, called direct acting antivirals DAA that are always used to treat hepatitis C. DAA tablets are the safest and most effective medicines for treating hepatitis C.
These medications are taken as tablets once or twice a day, for between eight and 16 weeks, depending on the exact medicine you're taking, your hepatitis C genotype and the severity of your condition. Some types of hepatitis C can be treated using more than 1 type of DAA.
If the virus is successfully cleared with treatment, it's important to be aware that you're not immune to the infection. This means, for example, that you could become infected again if you continue to inject drugs after treatment.
If treatment doesn't work, it may be repeated, extended or tried using a different combination of medicines. Treatments with direct acting antivirals DAAs have very few side effects. Most people find DAA tablets very easy to take. You may feel a little sick and have trouble sleeping to begin with, but this should soon settle down.
You need to complete the full course of treatment to ensure you clear the hepatitis C virus from your body. For a very small number of people, more severe side effects from hepatitis C treatments may include:. Hepatitis C medications may have unpredictable reactions when taken with other medicines or remedies. Always check with your specialist, GP or pharmacist before taking other types of medication.
Any side effects may improve with time as your body gets used to the medications. A person can reduce their risk of hepatitis B transmission by getting the hepatitis B vaccine. Doctors can often treat chronic hepatitis C.
If a person has risk factors for either form of hepatitis, such as sharing needles, a history of unprotected sex, or a blood transfusion before , they should speak to a doctor about testing. Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne viral infection in the U.
This article provides symptoms, causes, treatments, and outlook for acute and…. The most common types of viral hepatitis are A, B, and C. They all affect the liver and have similar symptoms, but transmission and treatments differ…. Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that is spread person-to-person and via contaminated food and water. It rarely develops into a serious…. Hepatitis B is a viral infection transmissible through the exchange of various bodily fluids.
Learn more about hepatitis B, including the precautions…. We look at symptoms and…. What is the difference between hepatitis B and C? Medically reviewed by Shilpa Amin, M. Hepatitis B vs. Share on Pinterest Hepatitis is a viral infection that affects the liver. Symptoms and long-term effects. Share on Pinterest Fever and fatigue are potential symptoms of hepatitis B and C.
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Hepatitis C: What happens in end-stage liver disease? Products and services. My brother has been told he has end-stage hepatitis C. What does this mean? Answer From Stacey A. Rizza, M. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.
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