What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is a disease that effects liver function. The liver is a vital organ that processes multiple materials, filter the blood and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, it malfunction and causes a disease characterized by yellowing of skin and eyes, fever, general ill feeling, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine and pale stools. The intensity of the disease varies based on many factors, and it may deteriorate or become a chronic disease.
Abuse of alcohol, toxins or certain medications, as well as certain medical conditions, can cause inflammation of the liver. However, hepatitis is most commonly caused by a virus. The most common types of Hepatitis are Hepatitis type B And type C.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is an infectious inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Acute Hepatitis C may occur during the first few months after the infection. The severity of the infection can vary, from very mild disease with few or no symptoms to a sever condition that requires hospitalization. For unknown reasons, in approximately 20% of infected people the virus disappears without treatment during the first 6 months after infection.
Unfortunately, however, most people (80%) infected will not get rid of the hepatitis C virus and will develop chronic infection ( "carrier state”) that lasts all their life. 20-30% of the carriers develop cirrhosis of the liver, a condition where normal liver tissue is replaced by dysfunctional scar tissue (fibrosis). For half of the patients with cirrhosis, liver scarring proliferation can lead to liver failure and the need for liver transplant, and a small percentage may develop liver cancer.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
Many people with hepatitis C do not experience any symptom (asymptomatic) and do not know they are infected. If symptoms appear, they can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, dark urine, light-gray stools, joint pain, and yellowing of skin and eyes. In acute infection, symptoms can appear at any time from two weeks to six months after infection. Chronic disease can develop over decades, and when symptoms occur, they often indicate advanced liver disease.
How can you get infected with hepatitis C?
Infection with hepatitis C occurs when blood from a person infected with hepatitis C reaches the body of non-infected person. Most infections occur in people who use drugs, as a result of sharing needles, syringes or any other injecting equipment. Until the 1990s, before testing for the virus in blood and its products, hepatitis C infection could have occurred during blood transfusion or organ transplant.
Hepatitis C infection related to sex is rare, but possible, and the risk increases in cases of sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, or when having sex with multiple partners. Infection can occur as a result of Tattoos and body piercing in facilities that use unsterile equipment. In addition, approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will be infected.
For some people, however, it is unknown how or when they got infected. In Israel higher prevalence of the virus can be found among immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
How can you find if a person has hepatitis C?
The only way to know if a person has hepatitis C is by blood test looking for antibodies to the
hepatitis C virus. The body produces the antibodies to the virus, and these remain in the blood even after recovery. Positive antibody test means that at some time in the past the person was infected with hepatitis C virus, but it does not necessarily mean that the person currently has hepatitis C. For this purpose, an additional test called RNA Test is made to determine whether a person is infected with hepatitis C.
Who should be tested for hepatitis C?
Testing for hepatitis C is recommended for certain groups, including people who:
- Received blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
- Injected drugs, even if only once, or many years ago
- Suffer from certain medical conditions, such as chronic liver disease, HIV or AIDS
- Have abnormal liver function detected in their blood tests, or have liver disease
- Were exposed to blood from a person infected with hepatitis C
- Were born to a mother with hepatitis C
The Ministry of Health works to characterize other groups that should be tested. The recommendations will be published following the conclusions of the professional committees.
Is there any treatment for hepatitis C?
Yes! Many new medications for hepatitis C were introduced recently. Those medications are safe, effective, and involve shorter treatment with less side effects. However, treatment strategy is determined depending on the severity of the disease and its nature, and therefore you must consult with your primary physician concerning the treatment.
Can I prevent hepatitis C?
Although there is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, there are several ways to reduce the risk of contracting the virus:
- Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other materials.
- Do not use personal items that may come into contact with the blood of a person infected with the virus, such as razors, nail clippers, a toothbrush, or a device for measuring blood sugar.
- Do no make tattoos or body piercings in places that do not keep strict sterility.
