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UrduHepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a virus that is sometimes passed on through sexual contact. It can infect the liver and if left untreated, it can sometimes cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage to the liver over many years. But with modern treatments it’s often possible to cure the infection and most people with it will have a normal life expectancy.
It is estimated that around 215,000 people in the UK have Hepatitis C.
The Hepatitis C virus is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact. Some ways the infection can be spread include:
- sharing unsterilised needles – particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs
- sharing razors or toothbrushes
- from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby
- through unprotected sex – although this is very rare but men who have sex with men (MSM) are more likely to get infected through unprotected sex especially if they are HIV positive. Find out more about blood-blood contact during sex here: http://www.hepctrust.org.uk/information/risk-factors/sexual-contact
In the UK, most Hepatitis C infections occur in people who inject drugs or have injected them in the past. It’s estimated that around half of those who inject drugs have the infection.
Hepatitis C often doesn’t 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 time
- loss of appetite
- abdominal (tummy) pain
- feeling and being sick
A blood test can be carried out to see if you have the infection. There are two types of blood test: the antibody test and the PCR test. The PCR test is usually only done if the antibody test is positive. The results usually come back within two weeks.
The antibody test
The antibody blood test determines whether you have ever been exposed to Hepatitis C by looking for the presence of antibodies to the virus which have been produced by your immune system to fight germs.
The test may not show a positive reaction for up to six months after infection because your body takes time to make these antibodies.
If the test is negative, but you have symptoms or you may have been exposed to Hepatitis C, you may be advised to have the test again.
A positive test indicates that you have been infected at some stage. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are currently infected, as you may have since cleared the virus from your body.
The only way to tell if you are currently infected is to have a second blood test, called a PCR test.
The PCR test
The PCR test shows the amount of virus in your blood and the type of Hepatitis C virus. This is helpful in determining the treatment.
Most people with Hepatitis C can be treated with a combination of medicines that clear the virus. These treatments may need to be taken for at least 8 week, several months or possibly for up to a year.
Up to 90% or more of people with Hepatitis C may be cured. But it’s important to be aware that you won’t be immune to the infection and should try to reduce your risk of becoming infected again.
We will refer patients with Hepatitis C to specialist local clinics for management and follow-up.
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