Hepatitis C
Overview
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.
Symptoms
Hepatitis C often does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. This means many people have the infection without realising it. When symptoms do occur, they can be mistaken for another condition. Symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and a high temperature (fever)feeling tired all the timeloss of appetitestomach achefeeling and being sick The only way to know for certain if these symptoms are caused by hepatitis C is to get tested.
Causes
Viral (HCV). Blood-to-blood contact (sharing needles/drug kit - main cause; unsterile tattoos; past blood transfusion).
Treatment
Hepatitis C can be treated with medicines that stop the virus multiplying inside the body. These usually need to be taken for several weeks. Until recently, most people would have taken 2 main medicines called pegylated interferon (a weekly injection) and ribavirin (a capsule or tablet). Tablet-only treatments are now available. These new hepatitis C medicines have been found to make treatment more effective, are easier to tolerate, and have shorter treatment courses. They include sofosbuvir and daclatasvir. Using the latest medications, more than 90% of people with hepatitis C may be cured. But it's important to be aware that you will not be immune to the infection and should take steps to reduce your risk of becoming infected again.
Prevention
There's no vaccine for hepatitis C, but there are ways to reduce your risk of becoming infected. These include: not sharing any drug-injecting equipment with other people – including needles and other equipment, such as syringes, spoons and filtersnot sharing razors or toothbrushes that might be contaminated with blood The risk of getting hepatitis C through sex is very low. But it may be higher if blood is present, such as menstrual blood or from minor bleeding during anal sex. Condoms are not usually necessary to prevent hepatitis C for long-term heterosexual couples, but it's a good idea to use them when having anal sex or sex with a new partner.
When to see a doctor
See GP/Sexual Health for test if: ever injected drugs (even once); had unsterile medical care/tattoo.