Hepatitis C is a common liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatic infections are usually transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. The liver also causes serious complications in some people, but fortunately it rarely leads to death.
Hepatitis C, also known as hepatitis B, is an easily treatable liver disease caused by HCV. When HCV enters the bloodstream, it multiplies and destroys liver cells.
Hepatitis C can affect any organ in the body, but the liver is most commonly affected. Most liver disease occurs around the age of 50, and it is during this time that most patients begin to develop severe symptoms. Symptoms of hepatitis include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, muscle weakness, abdominal pain and soreness, fever, loss of appetite, dark yellowish skin or eyes, abdominal pain and weight loss, diarrhea, and bleeding in stools.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the symptoms of hepatitis C. Although all people develop mild liver disease and other symptoms of hepatitis, the most common symptoms are jaundice and bleeding from stools. The most severe symptoms are usually jaundice and liver failure.
If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, treatment options usually depend on the severity of your liver disease. Mild liver disease responds well to antibiotics, while more severe cases may require liver transplantation.
Symptoms can be very similar to those of other liver diseases, so it is important to get a diagnosis early on, or they can become fatal. Your doctor may often have tests to help diagnose the condition and determine the cause.
Treatment options depend on your condition, so it is best to discuss the available options with your doctor. You may be prescribed anti-HCV medications or even anti-rejection medications if you have already had a liver transplant.
If you suffer from liver failure or have previously had a liver transplant, you should avoid sexual intercourse unless advised otherwise by your doctor. Any contact with the patient’s blood should also be avoided.