Hepatitis c symptoms usually don't manifest themselves for years and, occasionally, never at all. All sorts of hepatitis involve inflammation of the l...
Hepatitis c symptoms usually don't manifest themselves for years and,
occasionally, never at all. All sorts of hepatitis involve inflammation of the liver. The harm can be caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, toxins, poisons, and some medications. Hepatitis C is caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
If the inflammation can not be reduced, the condition becomes chronic which means it's a continuous health issue. In this case, the patient is at risk of liver disease which can be extremely serious and sometimes even fatal. 75 percent of most hepatitis cases involve the C virus. If the disease outcomes in liver failure, the only hope for survival is a liver transplant.
Like all cases of hepatitis, the C virus is contagious. It is transmitted through blood and the most common mode is via contaminated syringes used by drug addicts. Even somebody who used a syringe for recreational drugs only once is at risk of developing hepatitis C.
Less common causes of transmission are from mother to infant during childbirth, sexual intercourse with an infected partner, or having multiple sex partners. You can contract the disease when you share eating utensils, nail clippers, razors, and also other personal items with an infected person. On the other hand, you will not get hepatitis when you live with an infected person, touch them, or be near them.
The disturbing factor about hepatitis C is that 80 percent of people with it have no idea that they are infected. That is mainly because it doesn't usually present symptoms and, when it does, these could possibly occur as long as 20 years after initial exposure. Also, the symptoms might be mild, vague, and erratic. By the time they do appear, serious liver damage has already occurred.
During the early phase of infection, occasionally symptoms are evident. They are likely to occur 1 to 3 months after contact with the C virus. They include jaundice, dark colored urine, pale stools, fatigue, pain under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting .
A chronic case of hepatitis C can develop into cirrhosis of the liver which is a condition related to alcoholism. In the case of cirrhosis, the liver's healthy tissue is gradually replaced by fibrous tough tissue. When this happens, the liver begins to fail and loses its ability to function. Symptoms of cirrhosis are swelling of the belly and other limbs, sleep disturbances, itchy skin, fatigue, persistent jaundice, fluid retention, weight loss, vomiting blood, confusion, and hallucinations.
As mentioned already, hepatitis c symptoms can be non-existent which makes this disease a silent killer. Persons with it have got to take control of their lives to manage the condition as best they can. They ought to eat properly, exercise regularly, and get medical support. By following this regime, it is possible to stop further damage to the liver. Additionally, they must be inoculated against the hepatitis A and B viruses since they will be at risk of developing these also.
