Hepatitis C FAQs

Dr. B. K. Agrawal MBBS, MD

Hepatitis C is a viral disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. The disease usually damages the liver and can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Here's what you need to remember:

• Acute hepatitis C can be resolved in the shorter-term with proper treatment.
• If you ignore this condition, then it can turn into chronic or lifelong hepatitis C.
• Chronic hepatitis C is much more serious, as it can lead to scarring of the liver, liver cancer and even death.

Dr. Braj Bhushan Ojha BAMS

Hepatitis has five strains which affect humans: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are caused by consuming food and water contaminated with the virus. And hepatitis B, C and D are transferred through the bodily fluids of an infected person. So far, scientists have developed a vaccine for only hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus whereas hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. 

The classic difference between these two is that hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with the patient's saliva or blood, whereas hepatitis C infection usually spreads through blood-to-blood contact.

Dr. Roshni Poonja MBBS

Hepatitis C symptoms can show up two weeks to six months after someone is exposed to the virus. Indeed, around 80% of patients do not present with any symptoms after the initial infection.

The symptoms of hepatitis C include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Dark coloured urine
• Clay coloured faeces
• Stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Jaundice

Dr. Rahul Poddar MBBS, DNB, MBBS, DNB

There are three stages of hepatitis C:

Acute Hepatitis C

The acute phase starts from the time the virus enters the body until the next six months. Research shows that 30% of patients can fight the infection naturally during this phase. In this phase, most people do not develop any symptoms and even those who do, present with vague symptoms like loss of appetite or fatigue. Only about 20% of people who get the virus develop jaundice in this phase. People usually do not seek any medical help until the situation worsens. 

Chronic Hepatitis C

Patients whose bodies can't naturally defeat the hepatitis C virus and who don't get treatment during the first six months, enter this phase. A person in the chronic phase would present with symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Joint pain and muscle pain
• Inability to remember things (brain fog)
• Indigestion or bloating
• Itching
• Pain in the abdomen
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Depression 

To diagnose the hepatitis C virus in the chronic phase, your doctor would require two different hepatitis C virus RNA tests.

The infection becomes worse for patients during this phase, and some of them can develop liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, making the liver unable to function, eventually leading to end-stage liver disease.

End-stage liver disease

End-stage liver disease is the other name for chronic liver failure. It progresses over months, years, or sometimes decades. Chronic liver failure mostly happens due to cirrhosis. Liver transplant is the only viable option for a patient with end-stage liver disease.

Dr. Sangita Shah MBBS

The mode of transmission of hepatitis C virus is a blood to blood contact. You can get hepatitis C in one of the following ways: 

• Sharing needles with an infected person.
• Getting transfused with unscreened infected blood or blood products.
• Sexual practices that may lead to exposure to blood.

Dr. Abhijit MBBS

A person suffering from end-stage liver disease due to hepatitis C would present with the following symptoms:

• Ascites: Ascites is the term for fluid build-up in the abdomen, making it large and distended.
• Bleeding problems: A person with end-stage hepatitis C would have abnormal bleeding that would be difficult to stop.
• Pain in the bones: Cirrhosis of the liver causes a deficiency of vitamin D in the body, leading to softening of the bones and bone pain. Especially seen in the legs, hips, and spine. 
• Bruising: Cirrhosis leads to a deficiency of vitamin K and some clotting factors in the blood. This causes easy bruising of the body. 
• Glossitis: Glossitis is the term used for inflammation of the tongue which looks extremely red and is extremely sensitive to salty and sour foods. 
• Caput Medusae: Caput medusae are visible, enlarged veins at the navel that spread out and up over the abdomen. 
• Gastroesophageal Varices: Gastroesophageal varices are enlarged, fragile veins at the meeting point of the food pipe and the stomach. These veins can burst and bleed.
• Haemorrhoids: Haemorrhoids are the enlarged and fragile veins found around the anus that may bleed occasionally. 
• Melanosis: Gradual darkening of the skin due to sun exposure is known as melanosis.
• Night blindness: Cirrhosis can cause a deficiency of vitamin A, leading to poor vision and episodes of night blindness.
• Shortness of breath: A person suffering from end-stage hepatitis C would experience shortness of breath.
• Steatorrhea: Steatorrhea is the presence of fat in the bowel, making the stool smelly and float in the toilet.
• Xanthelasma: Xanthelasmas are the small deposits of fat just under the surface of the skin around the eyes.

Dr. Suhas Bhargav MBBS

Hepatitis C is known to affect the digestive system and thus can have symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Bloating 
• Diarrhoea
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Nausea 

Dr. Ram Saini MD, MBBS

There are some oral manifestations that may be seen in hepatitis C patients, such as:

• Dry mouth: Dry mouth is medically known as xerostomia. It can lead to dental caries or cavities.
• Oral lichen planus: Oral lichen planus is a white patch in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity (mouth). It causes a burning sensation in the mouth. 
• Sjogren’s syndrome: A person with Sjogren’s syndrome presents with dry mouth and dry eyes.
• Sialadenitis: Sialadenitis is the term for infection of the salivary glands.

If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, you should set up an appointment with your dentist to discuss measures to protect your teeth, gums and the entire oral cavity.

Dr. Chirag Bhingradiya MBBS

Hepatitis C can bring a few skin changes in the affected person. A person with hepatitis C may present with skin symptoms like:

• Spider Navi: Spider Navi are small, red, spider-shaped spots, usually found on the face and chest. 
• Melanosis: Melanosis is the darkening of the skin due to sun exposure.
• Xanthelasma: Xanthelasmas are the small deposits of fat found under the surface of the skin around the eyes.

Dr. Saurabh Dhamdhere MBBS

Hepatitis C infection is diagnosed with the following two tests:

• Your doctor may recommend a serological (blood) test to look for anti-HCV antibodies.
• If the test comes positive, a nucleic acid test for HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) is done to confirm chronic infection.

If a person is diagnosed with chronic HCV infection, then doctors assess the liver damage with the help of a liver biopsy or through a variety of non-invasive tests.

Dr. Madhur Anand MBBS, MS

The following people are at high risk of getting hepatitis and should get tested:

• People who inject any kind of drugs
• People who use intranasal drugs
• People undergoing blood transfusion
• People who do regular blood donation
• Children who were born to hepatitis C infected mothers
• People with hepatitis C infected sexual partners
• People with HIV infection
• People who have got inked with tattoos or have got piercings

Dr. Manju Shekhawat MBBS

Although not common, hepatitis C can be transmitted through sexual activity. Having a sexually transmitted disease or HIV, sex with multiple partners, or engaging in rough sex can increase a person’s risk for hepatitis C.

Dr. Kumawat Vijay Kumar MBBS

No, there is no research which claims that you can get the hepatitis C virus from a toilet seat. The virus does not stick to the toilet seat. So you can share a toilet with a person affected with hepatitis C infection. However, if the infected person is getting blood in their stool, they should use a separate toilet.

Dr. Vedprakash Verma MBBS, MD

It has not been reported in the case of hepatitis C, but it has been seen in the other strains of hepatitis. The WHO has stated that hepatitis D virus is a virus that needs the hepatitis B virus for its multiplication in the body. Hepatitis D infection either occurs along with hepatitis B or as a super-infection.

Dr. Suhas Bhargav MBBS

If a woman gets infected with hepatitis C virus during her pregnancy, it can be harmful to her as well as her baby. There is also a 4% chance of vertical transmission of the disease from the mother to the baby during birth.

However, even if the mother is infected with hepatitis C and the child is healthy, she can breastfeed her baby as the disease does not spread through breast milk.

Dr. Ramraj Meena MBBS

Acute stage of hepatitis C does not cause any damage to the liver. However, if a person reaches the chronic stage of hepatitis C, they run the risk of suffering from inflammation and damage to the liver. This injury to the liver over time leads to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a condition where there is scarring or formation of fibres in the liver which makes it difficult for the liver to function.

Dr. MBBS

Unlike other strains of hepatitis, hepatitis C can be cured if diagnosed early. However, if the person suffers from chronic hepatitis C, they may get healthy after the anti-viral medications.

Dr. Kishan Barnwal MBBS

There is no treatment for the acute hepatitis C. However, for chronic hepatitis C, the patient is given oral anti-viral medications for around eight to 12 weeks. Around 90% of patients get healthy after the due course of medication. The prognosis of people suffering from end-stage hepatitis C is not good, as some of them may require a liver transplant for survival.

Dr. Gaurav MBBS

Currently, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. However, you can avoid this infection by not sharing personal items that may have blood on them such as razors, toothbrushes or nail-grooming kits and by having protected sex. 

Dr. Piyush Malav MBBS, MS

People with hepatitis are advised to consume whole grains as they contain a lot of fibre. Whole grains include both the bran and the germ of the grain. Refined grains such as white bread and white rice are restricted for patients.

Patients should pick whole wheat bread over white bread, as it contains twice the amount of fibre, zinc, vitamin B6, and magnesium as white bread.