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.
As this eMedTV resource explains, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded RNA virus that travels through a person's blood. The HCV then enters liver cells and uses them to make more of the hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C transmission occurs most frequently through contact with infected blood. This portion of the eMedTV archives discusses hepatitis C transmission and how to prevent spreading the virus.
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.
For people with hepatitis C, symptoms may include fatigue, fever, nausea, and abdominal pain. This eMedTV article discusses these and other symptoms of hepatitis C. Many people experience no symptoms in the early stages 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.
One type of hepatitis C test can help your doctor determine whether or not you have hepatitis C and how much of the virus is present. This eMedTV resource describes the viral RNA hepatitis C test, as well as liver enzyme tests and a liver biopsy.
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.
Peginterferon and ribavirin are commonly used in hepatitis C treatment. This part of the eMedTV library describes these drugs for hepatitis C treatment, including their approximate success rate and key factors that may impact a person's treatment.
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.
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