Causative & risk factors
The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted from person to person via infected blood or other body fluids. Having unprotected sex with an infected person can lead to Hepatitis C. It can also be transmitted by using contaminated needles (tattooing, drugs, medical services) or receiving a blood transfusion from an infected person. A pregnant woman who is infected with Hepatitis C can transmit the disease to her fetus.
Clinical presentation
Patients with Hepatitis C usually remain asymptomatic. Some patients may develop symptoms. The patient usually loses his appetite and experiences nausea/vomiting along with pain in the abdomen. He may develop fever and is usually fatigued. In later stages, Hepatitis C produces jaundice, which is characterized by yellow discoloration of skin and sclera.
Chronic Hepatitis C carriers invariable develop liver damage, cirrhosis or malignancy.
Investigations
A blood test can be carried out to confirm the presence of antibodies to Hepatitis C virus. A blood test can also demonstrate the presence of the virus itself. HCV RNA is a confirmatory test to detect the presence of Hepatitis C virus. Liver function tests are carried out to check whether the levels are deranged.
Treatment
Targeted treatment against Hepatitis C is not necessary in those who are otherwise healthy with good immunity.
For those who need treatment, anti-viral drugs are prescribed in combination with interferon or ribavirin. These drugs produce a number of side-effects.
Recent updates
Newer oral drugs are being tested which can replace the use of interferon and ribavirin, and thus avoid side-effects.
