Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a virus, which can be spread through contact with infected blood. This eMedTV page talks about this condition in greater detail, including information on how it is transmitted, diagnosed, and treated.
Chronic hepatitis C is a disease in which there is long-term inflammation of the liver. This eMedTV resource explains several aspects of this condition, including how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated. Links to specific information are also included.
Hepatitis C is caused by infection with a certain virus. This portion of the eMedTV Web site reviews the different causes of this condition 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. However, while these two things 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 signs and 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 hepatitis C diagnosis requires a physical exam and obtaining confirmation with a viral RNA test. As this eMedTV article explains, it's also important to rule out similar conditions, like hemochromatosis, when diagnosing this condition.
As this eMedTV segment explains, hepatitis C testing may involve a liver enzyme blood test, a viral RNA test, or a liver biopsy. This article describes these forms of testing, including the different information each test provides about your health.
There are six main hepatitis C genotypes. As this eMedTV Web page explains, of these genotypes, genotype 1 is the most common in the United States. This article explores the genotypes for this disease, including their effect on treatment plans.
As this eMedTV page explains, hepatitis C viral load is a measure of the amount of hepatitis C virus in a person's blood. This article explains how the results of a viral load test are expressed and how they are used to monitor treatment results.
Peginterferon, either taken alone or with ribavirin, is the most common treatment for hepatitis C. This eMedTV resource explains these and other options in detail, including the factors that can affect the success of treatment.
Reducing your risk for hepatitis C 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 more.
Currently, no vaccine is available for hepatitis C. But, as this section of the eMedTV library explains, researchers are hopeful that a vaccine will be ready by 2010. This article also offers tips to protect yourself from hepatitis C.
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.
About 3.9 million people in the US are infected with hepatitis C. As explained in this eMedTV article, the statistics on hepatitis C show a decreasing trend in the number of new hepatitis C cases diagnosed each year.
