Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is growing at an alarming rate. It attacks the liver and causes inflammation.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease that is growing at an alarming rate. It attacks the liver and causes inflammation. The Hepatitis C Virus travels primarily through blood-to-blood contact. This might be by intravenous drug use, unclean medical equipment or blood transfusions where proper screening is not practiced. A pregnant woman might transfer the disease to her baby. People practicing unsafe sex with multiple sex partners, run a higher risk of contracting Hep C. Other than this, being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools, getting an accidental needle stick with an infected needle, using an infected person’s razor or toothbrush and sharing drug needles with an infected person can cause Hepatitis C. Because the disease shows no apparent symptoms, it is difficult to identify. However, symptom identification at an early stage is vital, because in its later stages, Hep C can cause massive liver damage.

There are some good websites which provide guidance regarding Hepatitis C symptoms. Acute symptoms of Hepatitis C include loss of appetite, nausea, fever, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, weight loss, tenderness around the liver etc. Unless these Hepatitis C symptoms are identified early, a chronic infection can result. Thus, the moment you notice continued fatigue, fever or lack of appetite in spite of normal medication; it is time to consult a specialist. This is even more essential if you are a man above the age of 40, or a heavy drinker – because these categories of people are always at higher risk.

But how does a doctor identify the presence of the Hep C virus? Currently there are a number of different diagnostic tests available for diagnosis of hepatitis C. Hep C trials are also conducted on suspected carriers of the disease. Some of the commonest tests for Hepatitis C include recombinant immunoblot assay, the ELISA test, and the polymerase chain reaction test. All these tests help in quick Hep C diagnosis. The doctor may also make an individual undergo Hep C screening, if he perceives the latter as being prone to the disease. Being born to a mother infected with Hepatitis C, coming into contact with blood as a medical worker, undergoing organ transplant or blood diffusion at a low-key hospital, sexual intercourse with an infected person, are some of the scenarios which can necessitate Hep C screening.

The doctors conduct a preliminary blood test to determine the possibility of Hep C. It also helps the doctor determine the viral load of the patient. The test will look for the presence of hepatitis C virus antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay. If the test is positive for HCV, doctors will first run a confirmatory test which will verify the results of the immunoassay.

If the results are positive in the second test too, the doctor will recommend suitable medication. Commonly, doctors prescribe antiviral medications to be taken over the course of several weeks. Advanced Hep C might require a liver transplant. However, most liver transplant surgeries these days are successful, so the patient has little to worry about.

Resources:
Mary L. is the author of this article on Hepatitis C Symptoms.
Find more information on Hep C Trials here

Author: Nancy K.

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