Hepatitis C is a liver disease. Therefore, before we can talk about what is hep C, we have to review the liver and its functions.
THE LIVER
- Largest organ in the body, which is responsible for over 1,000 functions. The liver is like the “dishwasher” of your body, as everything that is eaten, drank, inhaled or absorbed through the skin is processed or broken down by the liver. Some of the livers many functions include storing vitamins and minerals, producing bile and protein that are essential to digestion, blood clotting, waste and toxin removal from blood and it regulates drugs and chemicals in the blood, among many other functions.
- Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver – Hepa meaning liver, and –itis meaning inflammation of.
- Hepatitis can be caused by viral infections, toxic reactions to some drugs and chemicals, an auto-immune condition and excessive alcohol consumption.
- The signs and symptoms of all hepatitis infections are similar; however, the outcome of the infection differs as well as the way it is spread, prevented and controlled.
HEPATITIS C
- Hepatitis C virus is one of many viruses that cause liver inflammation. Before the virus was named in 1989, hepatitis C was known as non-A non-B hepatitis because it was not like hepatitis A or hepatitis B
- Majority of people (75% - 85%) who become infected with hepatitis C go on to carry the virus in their blood for life
- Hepatitis C is only spread by blood-to-blood contact, including contact with tissues or body fluids that contain blood
- Hepatitis C can progress to liver damage and possibly cancer
- The infection can stay in the body for many years (10-40 years) without producing any symptoms, so many people don't even know they have the disease. – see the symptoms section for more information
- Peel Health recommends that if you have ever had a risk factor for hepatitis C should be tested.
- An infected person can pass hepatitis C to others without knowing it
- Hepatitis C is a treatable disease. There are current treatments available for people infected with hepatitis C.
