Diseases caused by viruses are present in our daily lives all the time. And there is no way to escape many of them, such as the flu, which is perhaps the clearest example of this type of illness. But the number is not limited to these more common diseases, and some can bring various harms to us, such as hepatitis C.

That’s why in this article we will talk about the main causes, symptoms, and treatments of this disease, which is well-known for all the consequences it can bring, but which in many aspects remains unfamiliar to many people.

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C, as mentioned here, is a disease caused by a virus called C (or HCV) that attacks and causes inflammation in the liver of the infected person. It is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, although there is a possibility of infection through sexual relations between men when there is the presence of HIV infection.

This disease is silent, attacking the body but taking a long time for symptoms to be felt by those who have the virus. In fact, many people only discover they are infected when they donate blood, undergo routine tests, or when the disease is already in an advanced stage.

It is estimated that about 3% of the world population suffers from hepatitis C, which means more than 150 million people, and among them, more than 3 million Brazilians.

Diagnosis of Hepatitis C

Common blood tests can detect the presence of hepatitis C in a person, as well as the amount of virus a person carries. In addition, after the disease is discovered, the doctor usually performs a genotyping of the virus, which helps identify the best type of treatment for the infected person.

Main Causes of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C can occur for different reasons, and partly because of this, many people don’t worry as much as they should about the presence of the virus. The main causes of hepatitis C are:

  • Sharing razors or toothbrushes
  • Sharing non-sterilized needles
  • Unprotected sex

It’s important to remember that hepatitis C acquired through unprotected sex is more rare. Of course, there are other ways to contract the disease, but these are the most common and well known.

Risk Groups

Because hepatitis C is a disease easily transmitted from person to person, some groups are at higher risk of being infected than others. The main ones are:

  • Injectable drug users
  • People who have undergone kidney dialysis for a long time
  • People who have contact with blood at work
  • People who have received blood or organs from a donor with suspected hepatitis C
  • People who got tattoos with instruments that may be contaminated

All these factors contribute to making a person more likely to acquire the hepatitis C virus. Although these situations do not always mean the person has the disease, people in any of these groups need to be more vigilant.

There is no type of vaccine against the disease, so prevention involves avoiding these kinds of behaviors and staying away from objects that can infect you, especially needles.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C

As we mentioned earlier, hepatitis C usually does not show visible symptoms in its initial phase, which can make treatment more difficult in several ways. The main symptoms of hepatitis C are usually related to liver problems caused by the disease, and they are:

  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Fever
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constant fatigue
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Yellowish skin
  • Vomiting

Although many of these symptoms can be mistaken for symptoms of other common diseases such as the flu, for example, it is important to pay attention to their combination, especially for those who are part of the risk groups already mentioned here. The earlier the disease is treated, the more effective it can be.

Is Hepatitis C Curable?

For a long time, hepatitis C was known as a disease that could be treated but not cured. Today that reality is different and treatment can completely cure the infected person. Like almost all diseases, it is easier to treat when detected early, but it can still be cured even at an advanced stage.

Even so, some care is necessary for this cure to be achieved, since treatment depends not only on medication, but often on a behavior change in the person undergoing treatment.

How is the treatment done?

Hepatitis C treatment is done through antiviral pills that fight and reduce the symptoms until the virus no longer has any effect on the body of the infected person. Treatment may last between 12 and 24 weeks and, during this period, the person should avoid consuming alcohol, as it directly attacks the liver and can cause problems in the healing process.

In more severe cases, a liver transplant may be necessary. This usually happens when the disease is in an advanced stage and medication can no longer help.

If not treated properly, hepatitis C can even cause death, so it’s important to visit a doctor as soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Consequences of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a disease that can bring many harmful consequences to the infected person, but it can be treated relatively easily if the person knows how to identify the symptoms and understands how the treatment is done.
For this reason, it is always important to stay informed about everything related to diseases transmitted by viruses, especially those that attack silently like hepatitis C, as lack of knowledge can lead to more serious consequences.

Don’t forget that consulting a doctor is essential when you experience any symptoms and you should never take any medicine on your own to try to treat hepatitis C or any other disease, as this could lead to even more problems for the person who is already sick.

See also: Prenatal Exams – Why Are They Important?
Photo: Fotos GOVBA