Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a virus, which can be spread through contact with infected blood. This eMedTV page describes how hepatitis C is transmitted and discusses treatment options as well as ways to prevent infection.
Chronic hepatitis C is a disease in which there is long-term inflammation of the liver. This eMedTV resource explains several aspects of chronic hepatitis C, including how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated.
All six genotypes of the hepatitis C virus are causes of hepatitis C. This portion of the eMedTV website reviews the different causes of hepatitis C and how the hepatitis C virus can be spread -- generally through infected blood.
The hep C virus infects liver cells and uses the cells to make more copies of itself. This eMedTV Web page offers a brief overview of the hep C virus, identifies its main subtypes, and provides a link to more information.
Contact with infected blood is the most common way of contracting hepatitis C. As this portion of the eMedTV library explains, things like sharing needles for tattoos, piercings, or drugs put a person at risk of contracting hepatitis C.
You don't get hepatitis C from a kiss or from other everyday activities like talking or hugging. This portion of the eMedTV library covers how hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood, and why you can't get hepatitis C from a kiss.
As explained in this eMedTV segment, scientists do not believe that there is a relationship between oral sex and hepatitis C transmission. While oral sex and hepatitis C may not be linked, hepatitis C can be spread through sexual intercourse.
Many people do not exhibit physical symptoms of hepatitis C in the early stages of the disease. However, as this eMedTV segment explains, cirrhosis of the liver can lead to jaundice, abdominal pain, and other physical symptoms of hepatitis C.
When the liver becomes badly damaged with cirrhosis and liver failure occurs, late symptoms of hepatitis C may develop. This eMedTV article covers the late symptoms of hepatitis C, such as slowed mental function, intestinal bleeding, and itchy skin.
Making a diagnosis of hepatitis C requires a physical exam and confirming the diagnosis with a viral RNA test. As this eMedTV article explains, it's also important to rule out similar conditions, like hemochromatosis, when diagnosing hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C testing may involve a liver enzyme blood test, a viral RNA test, or a liver biopsy. This page on the eMedTV site describes these forms of hepatitis C testing, including the different information each test provides about your health.
There are six main hepatitis C genotypes. Of the different hepatitis C genotypes, genotype 1 is the most common in the United States. This eMedTV resource explores the hepatitis C genotypes, including their effect on treatment plans.
Hepatitis C viral load is a measure of the amount of hepatitis C virus in a person's blood. This eMedTV resource explains how the results of a hepatitis C viral load test are expressed and how they are used to monitor treatment results.
Treatment for hepatitis C usually includes peginterferon, either taken alone or with ribavirin. This eMedTV resource explains these treatment options and the factors that can affect the success of treatment for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C prevention begins with knowing that the virus is spread through infected blood. This eMedTV resource offers tips for hepatitis C prevention, such as not injecting drugs, considering the risks of tattoos and piercings, and other ideas.
Currently, no hepatitis C vaccine is available. But, as this section of the eMedTV library explains, researchers are hopeful that a hepatitis C vaccine will be ready by 2010. Until then (and even after), it's important to avoid other people's blood.
Several factors influence a person's hepatitis C prognosis. As this eMedTV article explains, a hepatitis C prognosis can be affected by the patient's age, ethnicity, and general health. The type of HCV the person has also impacts the prognosis.
Hepatitis C statistics indicate that about 3.9 million people in the US are infected with hepatitis C. The hepatitis C statistics on this eMedTV page also show a decreasing trend in the number of new hepatitis C cases diagnosed each year.
| Referring Pages | Articles |
