When the liver is damaged, serious consequences can happen. A common cause for damage to the liver is Hepatitis C.
What is Hepatitis C you might ask? Hepatitis C is a liver disease resulting from a viral infection.
What Causes Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is transmitted from person to person by infected blood. Hepatitis C is most prevalent in individuals that were born between and . Other factors of risk for Hepatitis C are:
- The use of shared needles to inject drugs
- Using unsanitary equipment while applying a tattoo or body piercing
- Infection from contact with infected blood, medical equipment or other unsterilized medical tools. This is most prevalent for medical professionals
- Blood transfusions received prior to
- Sex with many partners while not utilizing protection
- Past sexually transmitted diseases
- People who have HIV or AIDS
Please note that the spread of Hepatitis C is not simple. Casual people contact, kissing, sneezing or cough, sharing eating utensils or breastfeeding cannot spread the infection.
Signs of Hepatitis
Most individuals who are carrying Hepatitis C don't suffer any signs or symptoms. In fact a diagnosis for Hepatitis C can be made 10-20 years after you've first contracted the virus. However, many that do develop symptoms attributed to Hepatitis C often feel as if they have the flu. These symptoms can include:
Extreme tiredness
Sore muscles
Joint pain
Elevated temperature
Nausea or little appetite
Pain in the stomach
Itching skin
Urine that is dark in color
Yellow skin or eyes
Hepatitis C Diagnosis
When you have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, it is important not to panic. A multitude of treatment options are available to fight the virus and even to eliminate HCV permanently. Be sure to talk about medications with your doctor as well as two newer Hepatitis C drug treatments that have come on the scene in the last few years.
Chronic Hepatitis C
In some instances, Hepatitis C may turn into a chronic disease that goes away by itself and then recurs at regular intervals. Chronic Hepatitis C can result in other more serious conditions including cirrhosis of the liver. Also Hepatitis C can put you at greater risk for liver cancer or failure of the liver in the future. Hepatitis C's Symptoms And How To Identify Them
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Hepatitis C Could Be More Common Than You May Think
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