does anyone out there know about hepititus c?

Answer 1

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
Although hep A is a short-term illness that goes away completely, hep B and C can turn into serious long-term or chronic illnesses for some people. Teens and young adults are most at risk for getting these two viruses. Today all babies routinely get vaccines against the hep B virus, but there is not yet a vaccination for hep C.

Hep B and C get passed from person to person the same ways that HIV does — through direct contact with infected body fluids. Hepatitis B and C are even more easily passed in fluids and needles than HIV. This can happen through sexual contact and by sharing needles (used to inject illegal drugs) that have been contaminated with infected blood. Even when infected people don't have any symptoms, they can still pass the disease on to others.

Sometimes mothers with hep B or C pass the virus along to their babies when they're born. Hep B and C also can get passed in ways you might not expect — such as getting a manicure or pedicure with unsterilized nail clippers or other dirty instruments. Getting a tattoo, if dirty needles are used, is another way someone can get hep B or C.

Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis
Some people with hepatitis show no signs of having the disease, but others may have these symptoms:

tiredness without another reason
flu-like symptoms — throwing up, feeling hot, etc.
yellowing of skin and whites of eyes
belly pain (on the upper right side)
dark brown pee
light-colored stools (poop)
itchiness with no rash
poor appetite for days in a row or weight loss
A doctor who suspects someone may have hepatitis may ask the person questions like these:

Has the person been around anyone who works in health care or child care?
Did the person stick himself or herself with a dirty needle or get a tattoo with a dirty needle?
Did the person have contact with the bodily fluids of someone who has hepatitis?
Did the person have a blood transfusion as a baby?
Have any of the person's family members had hepatitis?
Could the person have eaten food that was contaminated with hepatitis A?
The doctor can order a blood test to see if someone has hepatitis and which type, then help the person get the right care.

Answer 2

Hepatitis C is a virus that can seriously damage the liver and affect its ability to function correctly. It is mainly spread through contact with the blood of a person who is infected. Less commonly it can also be passed on via other body fluids.

You cannot catch it through everyday contact such as holding hands, hugging, kissing or through sharing toilets, crockery or kitchen utensils

Most people do not experience any symptoms when they become infected. Some people may feel briefly unwell and in rare cases may become jaundiced (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Many people with chronic hepatitis C infection will have no symptoms, while others will feel unwell in varying degrees.

Answer 3

What is it?
Hepatitis C is an infection with the hepatitis C virus. Although there is no vaccine to protect against infection, there is effective treatment available.

Estimates suggest about 200,000 people are infected with hepatitis C in England, but eight out of ten are unaware they have it. This is because it can take years, even decades, for symptoms to appear.

Even if you have no symptoms, you can still pass on the virus to others.

How's it spread?
Hepatitis C virus is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. One common route is through sharing needles when injecting recreational drugs - around 35 per cent of people with the virus will have contracted it this way.

Similarly, having a tattoo or body piercing with equipment that has not been properly sterilised can lead to infection.

Before 1991, blood transfusions were a common route of infection. However, since then all blood used in the UK has been screened for the virus and is only used if not present.

Hepatitis C can be sexually transmitted, but this is thought to be uncommon. It can be passed on through sharing toothbrushes and razors. It is not passed on by everyday contact such as kissing, hugging, and holding hands.

If someone needs a blood transfusion or medical treatment while staying in a country where blood screening for hepatitis C is not routine, or where medical equipment is reused but not adequately sterilised, the virus may be transmitted.

In up to 50 per cent of cases, however, the origin of the infection is never found. It's believed that the virus can't be transmitted through normal social contact such as touching and sharing cups - you can't catch hepatitis C from toilet seats either.

What are the symptoms?
In most cases, the initial infection doesn't cause any symptoms. When it does, they tend to be vague and non-specific.

Possible symptoms of hepatitis C infection include:

Fatigue
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Joint pains
nausea
Flu-like symptoms (fever, headaches, sweats)
Anxiety
Difficulty concentrating
Alcohol intolerance and pain in the liver area


The most common symptom experienced is fatigue, which may be mild but is sometimes extreme. Many people initially diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome are later found to have hepatitis C.

Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C doesn't usually cause people to develop jaundice.

In about 75 per cent of cases, the infection lasts for more than six months (chronic hepatitis C). Most of these people have a mild form of the disease with intermittent symptoms of fatigue or no symptoms at all.

About one in five people with chronic hepatitis C develops cirrhosis. People with chronic hepatitis C infection should be seen by a hospital liver specialist who may recommend antiviral drug treatments either as single drug therapy or as combination therapy.

What's the treatment?
Whether treatment is needed, and if so which type, depends on a number of factors. These include blood tests to identify which strain of hepatitis C infection is present and how well the liver is functioning, and a liver biopsy to establish whether cirrhosis is occurring.

Hepatitis C is treated with a combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin.

Can I prevent it?
There are a number of ways to reduce the risk of the infection being transmitted. Those most at risk of contracting the infection are injecting drug users, who should never share needles or other equipment.

Practising safe sex by using condoms is also important.

People with hepatitis C infection aren't allowed to register as an organ or blood donor.


You can have a test to find out if you've been infected

If you think you could have been in contact with the hepatitis C virus at any point in the past, you can have a test to find out if you've been infected. You should ask you GP. Local drug agencies and sexual health clinics (sometimes called genito-urinary medicine or GUM clinics) may also offer testing.

For further information, visit the NHS hepatitis C website. There is also a hepatitis C information line on 0800 451451 (textphone 0800 085 0859) and hepatitis C resources

Answer 4

Hepatitis C is the most dangerous form of hepatitis. It can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. You might need a liver transplant if it gets too bad. Two co-workers of mine died from this. Both contracted the virus from contact with infected body fluids ( blood, semen). My aunt got it from a blood transfusion years ago. She is not doing so well now. It can be difficult to control the viral levels of hepatitis c through anti-viral medications. They just monitor the amount of virus particles in your blood with a PCR test.
If you had a tatoo or body piercing, you need to get tested. Several people have gotten hepatitis C through infected needles.
The obvious sign is yellowing of the skin or eyes and flu-like symptoms.

Answer 5

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. The symptoms can be medically managed, and a proportion of patients can be cleared of the virus by a long course of anti-viral medicines. Although early medical intervention is helpful, people with HCV infection often experience mild symptoms, and consequently do not seek treatment.

Answer 6

she will contained in the U. S. specific, a treatment there is not any treatment for HEP C a million out of four each physique is contaminated with HEP C.its a viruse that assaults the liver and .03 % peoples liver are acutually able to make it invisible different than the virel load shows that it particularly is there yet is "Quritined in case you will"Kinda like your workstation can locate an epidemic and placed it in a state of remmision.Hep -C is amazingly contagiuos yet yet there is in basic terms specific uncomplicated how you could seize the virus, a million)sharring a smoke,cig,bowle,ect,,exuse my spelling ty 2)kissing is the least way posibale,however the prospect is there 3)semen,vaginal excretions 4)use of suringes 5)exposer to blood ,avert cuts on strangers,bathroom seats with blood ect. 6)HIV, is greater of an easialy combatable diesiese to combat than HEP-C.in basic terms because of the fact the medicine are greater redialy avalible to those that have HIV.

Answer 7

hepatitis yes is a sometime a fatal disease
but never herd of hepititus?

Answer 8

you may have been exposed to the disease and you possibly will never know. If you are concerned go to the doctor and have them do a simple blood test. The disease is treatable if you are willing to do the therapy which may last over a year depending on what genotype you are diagnosed with.

Answer 9

I would just like to make an edit to "momwhoknows"....Hep C is NOT passed through semen or other bodily fluids. The only possible way to get Hep C is from blood to blood contact.

Answer 10

Sorry. All I know is that I've no immunity to Hepatitis B but don't really know what the difference is.