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Sexually Transmitted Infections > Guide to STIs > Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus.

It can cause swelling and scarring of the liver tissue, and sometimes substantial liver damage. Many people do not realise they have Hepatitis C because they may not have any symptoms, or they may have flu-like symptoms that can easily be mistaken for another illness.
Hepatitis C is a notifiable condition. This means that when the condition is diagnosed, the doctor making the diagnosis must inform the local authority.

How do you catch it?

Hepatitis C virus can be present in blood and saliva and semen or vaginal fluid. It is particularly concentrated in the blood. It is usually transmitted through blood to blood contact but can also be passed on through the body fluids of an infected person. Drug users sharing needles are at greatest risk. The risk of infection via unprotected sexual intercourse is considered to be low but does occur.

Symptoms

Hepatitis C virus has four stages:
• the acute stage
• the chronic stage
• compensated cirrhosis
• decompensated cirrhosis

The virus is unpredictable and you may or may not progress through the stages. Around 1 in 5 people will actually fight off the infection themselves during the first stage and not know they had the virus; maybe thinking they had flu or some other illness.

The acute stage

The acute stage of the virus is the first six months following infection. Many people will not experience any symptoms during this stage.
Other people will have vague flu-like symptoms, including:
• fever
• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• stomach pains
• nausea
• vomiting

These symptoms may occur during the first few weeks after being infected. Some people may even develop jaundice.

The chronic stage

Chronic Hepatitis C is when you have been infected for longer than six months.
In people with the chronic infection, the virus remains active but may not cause any symptoms for many years or throughout their life. A person with Hepatitis C may remain well and free from symptoms or liver problems. However, they are carriers of the virus and this can be passed on by them to others.
For those who do develop problems, these might range from mild liver damage to cirrhosis of the liver which is severe scarring. Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of liver cancer. Alcohol consumption is known to speed up the progression of liver damage and people with HIV also show a faster development of liver damage.

For those people who do experience symptoms during the chronic stage of the virus they may experience the following:
• extreme tiredness
• depression
• short-term memory problems or difficulty concentrating
• mood swings
• digestive problems
• joint and muscle aches and pains
• headaches
• flu-like symptoms
• pain or discomfort in the liver area
• stomach pains
• itching

Treatment

Treatment is usually a combination of two drugs: Interferon and Ribavirin.

• Interferon is a protein that is naturally produced by your body in response to a viral infection. It prevents the virus multiplying inside your cells.
• Ribavirin is an antiviral drug that stops the hepatitis C virus from spreading inside the body.

Treatment usually lasts for six or 12 months. Blood tests are taken after four weeks, and again after 12 weeks. This is to check your response to the treatment. Treatment is usually stopped if you do not show a good response after 12 weeks.