Everything You Need To Know About Hepatitis C

You've probably heard of it - but what is it and are you at risk?

What is Hepatitis?

Ivelin Radkov / Via healthline.com

Hepatitis literally means “inflammation or swelling of the liver.” Loads of things can cause Hepatitis, including viral infections (known as 'Viral Hepatitis'), excess alcohol and certain prescription/non-prescription drugs.

Some forms of Hepatitis will get better by themselves, whilst others can cause permanent damage to the liver and death without treatment.

What is Viral Hepatitis?

cdc.gov / Via cdc.gov

This is a group of viruses, the most common of which are Hepatitis A, B and C.

All are diagnosed via a blood test. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus affect more than 320 million people worldwide, which is more than HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria combined - but many people still know very little about them.

And Hepatitis C..?

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Hepatitis C or "Hep C" is more common in certain areas of the world, e.g. Africa and the Middle East. However in England, around 113,000 people are living with chronic (long-term) Hep C and many don't know that they have it. It's spread via blood contact, in several ways.

So how do you actually get it?

liver.ca / Via liver.ca

Hep C is most commonly passed on by:

- Sharing needles, e.g. to inject drugs (“slamming”)

- Sharing other equipment used to prepare or take drugs, e.g. spoons, filters, pipes and straws that have been contaminated with infected blood.

Less commonly by:

- Sharing razors and toothbrushes

- From mother to baby in the womb

- Since September 1991, all blood donated in the UK is checked for Hep C. If you received blood before this date, there's a small chance of infection. Similarly if you have a blood transfusion or medical or dental treatment overseas where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, this could pose a risk.

- Equipment used by hairdressers and tattooists can pose a risk if not sterilised or cleaned between customers. However, most salons operate to legally required standards, so this risk is low.

What about sex?

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Catching Hep C through sex is rare. But it's more common if you're HIV-positive, if you're a man who has sex with men (MSM), if you have “traumatic” anal sex (i.e. stuff that draws blood like fisting), or if you have genital sores or ulcers from another sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Other risks for Hep C are if you have group sex, share lube or sex toys or use drugs during sex ('chemsex').

How is it diagnosed?

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Hep C is diagnosed by a blood test. You may be offered a blood test if you:

- Have injected drugs

- Have had unprotected sex with someone who has Hep C

- Are HIV-positive

- Are from an area of the world where Hep C is more common

- Have liver disease or abnormal liver blood tests

- Received a blood transfusion pre-1991 or an organ/tissue transplant pre-1992

- Have spent time in prison

What are the symptoms?

nhs.uk / Via nhs.uk

Over half of adults with Hep C have no symptoms and don’t even realise they've been infected. This can mean people are unaware they carry the virus until the disease is severe.

If you do get symptoms, they can take up to 5 months to show. They include:

- Feeling tired and generally unwell

- Muscle aches

- Abdominal pain

- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin and itchy skin)

- Very pale poo

- Dark pee

How is it treated?

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In some people, Hep C clears up by itself, causing no permanent damage. However, if it stays in the body for over 6 months this is “Chronic Hep C.”

Chronic Hep C is curable. Newer treatments known as Direct Acting Anti-Viral Drugs (DAAs) are now available. They can be super effective with just three months treatment and have fewer side-effects than older treatments.

What if it's not treated?

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If you have Hep C you should be referred to a liver specialist for further tests and to see if you need treatment.

Complications of chronic, untreated Hep C include scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer, both of which can lead to death.

Is there a vaccine?

newhealthadvisor.com / Via newhealthadvisor.com

No. Whilst there are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, NO VACCINE EXISTS for Hep C so prevention is key.

People that have cleared Hep C once are also not immune to getting it again - you can catch Hep C multiple times. And due to cost issues, people reinfected with Hep C after treatment cannot be guaranteed treatment a second time round.

How do I avoid getting it?

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- Don't share needles/injecting equipment/straws if you are using drugs

- Sex - use condoms for toys, gloves for fisting and avoid sharing lube

- Get a test if you think you're at risk

What's the future looking like?

images.medicaldaily.com / Via images.medicaldaily.com

The more people we can diagnose and cure of Hep C, the more we can prevent it's spread. The UK is now working towards "the elimination of Hepatitis C as a major public health threat in the UK by 2030," as part of the 2016 WHO Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) on Viral Hepatitis.

Excitingly, the effects of new Hep C treatments are already being felt, with a 16% fall in deaths between 2015 and 2017 in England and lower numbers of liver transplants.

But there's a lot of work left to do - namely finding and treating those who remain undiagnosed and supporting people with Hep C through treatment. Watch this space.

For more info see the Hepatitis C Trust.