"We take the fear out of research and
health science communication."
Chris Atack, Atack Associates

Hepatitis - An Overview

The word hepatitis means 'inflammation of the liver'. When the liver is inflamed, it is red, swollen and tender.

Many things can cause hepatitis, including certain drugs, viruses and alcohol. While there are many kinds of hepatitis, hepatitis C is the most common form.

Almost 240,000 Canadians are infected with hepatitis C. Many people don't know that they are infected because they don't have any symptoms.

Hepatitis C can cause serious liver damage. Some people with hepatitis C will eventually need a liver transplant. While at present, there is no vaccine to immunize people against hepatitis C, this disease can be treated.

In some cases, the virus causing hepatitis C can almost be entirely eliminated. Many healthcare workers consider patients with no detectable virus to be cured.

If you or someone you know has hepatitis C, you should learn as much about this disease as possible. This booklet will help you to understand more about hepatitis C.

As you read this booklet, there might be medical terms that are difficult to understand. To help you know what they mean, we've included definitions at the back of this booklet (glossary section)

This booklet is intended to introduce you to hepatitis C - what it is, how it's diagnosed and how it can be treated. However, please keep in mind that your doctor and nurse are your best sources for information on hepatitis C and its treatment.

What Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is one of many types of hepatitis caused by a virus. When the Hepatitis C virus enters the body, it looks for liver cells to use as a host. When it finds a cell, the virus begins to replicate, in turn interfering with normal cell activity. This process may take many years. For this reason, hepatitis C symptoms sometimes don't appear until years after a person has been infected. Sometimes, symptoms don't appear until serious damage has been done to the infected liver.

Stages And Types of Hepatitis C

When someone is infected with the hepatitis C virus, the first stage is called acute hepatitis C. During this stage, the liver becomes inflamed. The infected person may become sick or may not have any symptoms at all.

In some cases the body can get rid of the virus on its own and go back to normal. In up to 85 per cent of cases however, the infection does not go away. This is called chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C affects everyone differently. Some patients develop serious health problems within five years of getting the virus. Most, however, feel fine even 20 years after being infected.

There are several types of hepatitis C viruses. Doctors need to find out which type of hepatitis C virus a person has, so they can decide on the best treatment. If your doctor needs this information, he or she will ask you to take a genotype test. This test shows which type of hepatitis C virus you are infected with.

What Does My Liver Do?

Your liver is an important part of your digestive system. It removes toxins (poisons) and waste products from your blood. It also filters almost every substance that enters your body, plus the many substances made by the body itself.

If your liver is damaged, it can cause problems in other parts of your body. This is why hepatitis C can be such a concern.

To keep your liver healthy, it is important to eat well and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. This is even more important if you have hepatitis C.

How Does Hepatitis C Affect My Liver?

Hepatitis C mainly affects the liver. However, years and even decades can go by before someone's liver is damaged or before a person begins to feel sick.

Liver damage can make it harder for blood to reach all parts of the liver. Loss of blood supply can kill the liver cells. As liver cells die, it becomes harder for the liver to store nutrients and take toxins out of your body.

The longer you live with untreated hepatitis, the greater your risk of developing liver health problems. For example, if the virus is left untreated it can sometimes lead to cirrhosis – a serious condition where normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue.

Once cirrhosis occurs, the liver cannot heal itself even if the inflammation goes away. Cirrhosis usually occurs in about 10% of people infected with hepatitis C

What Are The Symptoms Of Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C causes different symptoms in different people. Most people have no symptoms when they are first infected. Some experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, tiredness, aches and pains, nausea and vomiting. Occasionally the urine becomes darker and the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellowish. This is called jaundice.

Symptoms of hepatitis C can come and go. Liver damage can occur whether or not there are symptoms. It is also possible to have severe symptoms but no liver damage.

The symptoms of hepatitis C are listed below. Very few people with hepatitis C have ALL of these symptoms. Also, if you have one or more of the symptoms, this does not necessarily mean that you have the virus. The only way to find out for sure if you have hepatitis C is to take a blood test.

To find out more about the blood tests you should speak to your doctor.

Here are some symptoms of hepatitis C:

  • Aches -- flu-like illness, joint pain muscle aches, general weakness or feeling tired,
  • Nutrition-- loss of appetite, blood-sugar disorders
  • Gastrointestinal -- indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort
  • Psychological -- depression, mood swings, mental fatigue
  • Sleep -- irregular or poor sleep quality, not feeling rested after sleep
  • Skin -- itchiness

How Do People Get Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is passed from person to person when infected blood comes into contact with healthy blood. It is also possible to catch hepatitis C from infected bodily fluids. This is less likely. Some people with hepatitis C never find out how they got the virus.

Possible ways to become infected with hepatitis C:

  • Blood transfusions or infected blood products before 1991.
  • Sharing needles for intravenous drug use (even only once).
  • Tattooing or body piercing with dirty needles.
  • Occupational exposure, for example, needlestick injuries. This is a concern for healthcare workers.
  • Needles, dialysis equipment and other medical equipment.
  • Transmission from mother to child during birth.
  • Shared personal hygiene equipment including tooth brushes, razors, nail clippers.
  • Sharing a straw to snort cocaine or other drugs (the straw may be contaminated with infected blood).
  • Unprotected sex. The risk is higher in people with multiple sex partners or in homosexual males. Sexual acts that injure body tissues and allow contact with infected blood increase the risk.
  • Acupuncture or electrolysis with an unsterilized needle

Important note! Hepatitis C is NOT spread through casual contact.

  Back To Top Contact Us