Hepatitis C - Complications

Complications-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

If left untreated, hepatitis C can sometimes cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). This can develop up to 20 years or more after you first become infected.

A number of things can increase your risk of getting cirrhosis, including:

• drinking alcohol
• having type 2 diabetes
• getting hepatitis C at an older age
• having HIV
  • having another type of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B

Overall, up to 1 in every 3 people infected with hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis within 20 to 30 years. Some of these will then go on to develop liver failure or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C - Lifestyle FAQs

Lifestyle FAQs-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

Below are answers to some questions about living with hepatitis C, including questions about diet, the workplace, travelling and having a baby.

Could anything I do make hepatitis C worse?

Drinking alcohol can increase the damage to your liver. If you have hepatitis C, you should try to cut out alcohol or limit your intake. If you need advice about this, ask your doctor or contact an alcohol self-help organisation.

Read some tips for cutting down your alcohol consumption and find out where to get alcohol support.

If you're concerned that you're addicted to alcohol and are unable to stop drinking, contact your GP. Treatments are available to help you quit.

Hepatitis C - Treatment

Treatment-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

Hepatitis C can often be treated successfully by taking medicines for several weeks.

If the infection is diagnosed in the early stages, known as acute hepatitis, treatment may not need to begin straight away.

Instead, you may have another blood test after a few months to see if your body fights off the virus.

If the infection continues for several months, known as chronic hepatitis, treatment will usually be recommended.

Hepatitis C - Diagnosis

Diagnosis-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis C, taking a test will put your mind at rest or, if the test is positive, allow you to start treatment early.

GP surgeries, sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or drug treatment services all offer testing for hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C - Causes

Causes-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

You can become infected with hepatitis C if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.

Other bodily fluids can also contain the virus, but blood contains the highest level of it. Just a small trace of blood can cause an infection.

At room temperature, it's thought the virus may be able survive outside the body in patches of dried blood on surfaces for up to several weeks.

The main ways you can become infected with the hepatitis C virus are described below.

Hepatitis C - Symptoms

Symptoms-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

Many people with hepatitis C don't have any symptoms and are unaware they have the infection. They may develop symptoms later on as their liver becomes increasingly damaged.

Early symptoms

Only around 1 in every 3 or 4 people will have any symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection. This stage is known as acute hepatitis C.

If symptoms do develop, they usually occur a few weeks after infection. Symptoms may include:

• a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• tummy (abdominal) pains
• feeling and being sick

Hepatitis C - Overview

Overview-Hepatitis C

Contents

1. Overview
2. Symptoms
3. Causes
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Lifestyle FAQs
7. Complications

Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years.

However, with modern treatments it's usually possible to cure the infection, and most people with it will have a normal life expectancy.

It's estimated around 215,000 people in the UK have hepatitis C.

You can become infected with it if you come into contact with the blood of an infected person.