Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and is caused by a virus. In one in five people, hepatitis C goes away on its own, but in many people the liver inflammation develops into a chronic disease. Hepatitis C can cause serious damage to the liver.

Symptoms

Many people have had hepatitis C for a long time, but have no or few complaints. Well-known symptoms are:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Yield
• Poor appetite
• Complaints with the joints
• Vague abdominal complaints
• Fluish feeling

Jaundice

Jaundice only occurs at a late stage of the disease. Jaundice manifests itself in the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. Afterwards, the urine may also become dark and the stools may also look discoloured. When this occurs, the liver is often atrophying. This is called liver cirrhosis. This stage often occurs ten to twenty years after infection with hepatitis C.

Diagnosis

If hepatitis C is suspected, a blood test is first performed. The virus can be found in the blood. Furthermore, the blood can also be seen to see how the liver is functioning. With inflammation of the liver, the liver values are often much higher than normal. The doctor can see what the liver looks like via an ultrasound. Abnormalities of the liver can be quickly found via a CT scan or an MRI scan. A scanner maps the liver in much more detail than an ultrasound. The liver can thus be virtually cut into slices and viewed. An inflammation of the liver can be diagnosed by performing a liver puncture (also called a liver biopsy). A doctor inserts a long hollow needle between the right ribs and removes a piece of liver. The biopsy is examined more closely under the microscope. If necessary, the doctor can also perform a liver puncture in combination with an ultrasound. This allows for an even more accurate look at where the needle can best enter the liver.

Therapy

Most patients develop persistent hepatitis C. It depends on the client which treatment is most suitable. Sometimes it may even be best not to treat at all. Because there are different types of viruses that cause hepatitis C, treatment differs per patient. An internist specialized in hepatitis C usually provides the treatment. Peginterferons are often prescribed. This is medication that stimulates the immune system and weakens virus division. Peginterferons enter the body through an injection. This medication is not suitable for everyone because of the often serious side effects. This treatment works in half of the patients with hepatitis C. Another form of treatment is to prescribe the antiviral drug ribavirin. This medication is prescribed in tablet form. Ribavirin can completely clear the hepatitis C virus from the body, but it does not work in many patients. The doctor may also decide to prescribe ribavirin in combination with peginterferons. Specific diets are not necessary. It is important not to drink alcohol, because alcohol can damage the liver.

Difference between hepatitis C and hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis C differs from hepatitis A and hepatitis B in that it is less contagious and because it is only contagious through blood. In addition, most patients have no complaints at first, which means that hepatitis C quickly develops into a permanent disease.

Prevention

People with hepatitis C should be aware that they can infect other people. This is done through blood. The virus is in there. It is therefore important that other people do not come into contact with, for example, toothbrushes, plasters and sanitary towels containing infected blood. Hepatitis C cannot be transmitted through saliva. Contamination often occurs via used needles. This makes the disease common among junkies. A mother with hepatitis C can pass the disease on to her baby through breastfeeding or childbirth.

Prognosis

The outlook for a patient with hepatitis C varies greatly. About 1 in 5 people develop permanent hepatitis C. Patients with untreated chronic hepatitis A have a high risk of developing liver cirrhosis (shriveling of the liver), liver failure and liver cancer. In severe liver cirrhosis and liver failure, the only treatment is often a liver transplant.