We will begin by saying that Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by an infection of the HCV virus, commonly known as the C virus. The C virus is a blood-borne virus, and for this reason most people are infected by sharing syringes or other items used to inject drugs.
As for the symptomatology, in almost a third of the patients the hepatitis C virus infection presents as an acute disease (fatigue, arthralgia, or jaundice), but most infections are asymptomatic.
After an acute infection, up to 40% of young and healthy patients can develop potent antibodies and a cell-mediated immune response, which leads to spontaneous eradication of the virus. However, most infected patients fail to eliminate the virus. This results in chronic infection and progressive liver damage.
Chronic hepatitis C is a complex disease that can cause very serious health consequences, including death. As there is not yet a hepatitis C vaccine, prevention is very important.
What is the best way to prevent hepatitis C?
It is best to avoid situations where the disease is easily transmitted, such as injecting drugs or being exposed to punctures with used needles. The people most exposed to the disease are usually:
- Hemophiliacs.
- Health personnel.
- Drug addicts that inject directly into veins.
- People who had blood transfusions before 1990.
What are the most common ways to get the disease?
- Share needles to inject drugs.
- Prick your skin with a needle contaminated with infected blood.
- Get a tattoo or pierce any part of the body with an infected instrument.
- Have sex with an infected person (although this rarely occurs). Instead, there are certain forms of the relationship with the environment and with people that do not have a contact risk.
The CDC recommends having a blood test to detect infection in people at high risk of getting Hepatitis C. The groups considered to be the most exposed are:
- People who have ever injected or inhaled illegal drugs.
- Health and emergency personnel who have been exposed to blood or needle sticks accidentally.
- People with HIV infection.
- Babies born to mothers with Hepatitis C.
- People with hemophilia who were treated with coagulation factors before 1987.
- People who have undergone long-term hemodialysis treatment.
- People born between 1945 and 1965.
- Anyone who has been in prison.
- Sex partners of anyone diagnosed with Hepatitis C infection.
If you think you are in the above risk groups or have doubts about the probability of carrying the Hepatitis C virus, please contact us for an appointment to perform the corresponding Hep C exams.