What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is liver disease caused by a virus.
The liver is an organ in our abdomen (belly). It helps our bodies remove toxins and waste. It also helps us digest food and stores the energy we get from food. The word "hepatitis" means that there is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation of the liver can affect the liver’s ability to work properly. Hepatitis can be caused by infections (virus, bacteria or parasites), drugs or toxins (including alcohol). There are several types of viruses that can cause hepatitis. One of these viruses is the hepatitis C virus. Over time, hepatitis C may cause irritation and scarring in the liver, making it difficult for your liver to work properly.
How do people get hepatitis C?
The hepatitis C virus may be spread from person to person by blood contact, and during pregnancy or delivery from mother to baby.
- Many children with hepatitis C were born to mothers who are also infected with the virus. The hepatitis C virus can be passed to the baby either during pregnancy or delivery, although this happens rarely, in only about 5% of pregnancies.
- Rarely, people can get hepatitis C if they share personal items that may have the blood of someone with hepatitis C on them (such as toothbrushes, nail clippers or razors).
- It is possible to get the virus from a blood transfusion, from other blood products or from improperly cleaned medical equipment. This almost never happens in Canada.
- Anyone can get hepatitis C from sharing needles, such as the needles used for body piercing, tattooing, acupuncture or intravenous drug use.
- Hepatitis C is only rarely transmitted by having sex, except in people who also have the HIV virus or AIDS. Using condoms reduces the risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C and other infections.
Hepatitis C cannot be spread to other people by hugging, kissing, sneezing, coughing or breastfeeding.
How can I protect others from hepatitis C?
The risk of spreading hepatitis C infection is very low in regular day-to-day activity. If you have hepatitis C, you should not share your toothbrush or other personal items that may have traces of blood on them (razors and nail clippers). You should not let other people touch your blood, and you should not touch the blood of others.
Treatment for hepatitis C
Talk to your health-care provider about their treatment options. Treatment for hepatitis C has come a long way and there is a cure. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications (oral medications) may be taken for 8-12 weeks and are highly effective to cure the virus. Side effects are generally mild and temporary.
What tests can tell me how I am doing with hepatitis C?
Several tests can be done to tell us about the hepatitis C virus and how it is affecting your liver. Common helpful tests include:
- Hepatitis C viral load: This test tells how much hepatitis C virus is in your blood.
- Hepatitis C genotype: This blood test shows what subtype (or genotype) of hepatitis C is present. The genotype helps to show how likely it is that the virus will respond to treatment.
- Blood tests for liver enzymes (ALT and AST): The levels of these enzymes in the blood indicate how much inflammation is occurring in your liver. High levels mean there is more liver inflammation. A lot of inflammation over time can lead to scarring of the liver.
- Other blood tests can help show if scarring has developed in the liver.
- Ultrasound scan: An ultrasound scan of the liver can help tell how healthy it is and may help to detect signs of scarring. An ultrasound test, such as "FibroScan" is also used to determine the degree of scarring that may be present in your liver.
What happens if I get scarring in my liver?
Many people live their whole lives with hepatitis C without significant damage to their liver. However, as people age the risk of scarring in the liver increases. Mild scarring in the liver does not usually affect the way the liver works. Severe scarring (cirrhosis) may make it difficult for the liver to work properly. Cirrhosis only rarely happens in children and teenagers with hepatitis C.
Chronic hepatitis C infection also increases the risk for liver cancer, especially if it has caused bad liver scarring. However, liver cancer is very rare in children and teenagers with hepatitis C.
Regular medical follow-up throughout your life is important. This should allow problems in your liver to be identified and treated early, which may prevent you from becoming sick.
Can people tell I have hepatitis C?
Most young people with hepatitis C look completely well and have no symptoms or signs that they have the virus. Most people with hepatitis C usually feel well and participate in school, work and other activities.
How can I keep my liver healthy?
There are many things that help your liver stay healthy.
- A healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit helps provide antioxidants that protect the liver from the bad effects of inflammation.
- Regular physical activity when combined with a healthy diet keeps weight under control. Being overweight will often cause extra difficulty for the liver and may cause liver scarring to develop more quickly.
- Be careful with herbal, natural or other alternative or complementary treatments. Check with your doctor before taking any herbal medications, as some of these may harm the liver.
- Be careful about other medications because some medications are processed by the liver. If you need medication for other health conditions, follow the instructions carefully or ask your health-care provider or pharmacist for advice.
- Get immunized. You should have all of the recommended immunizations available and be immunized against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
- Avoid alcohol and other types of drugs that may damage the liver.
Does drinking alcohol or taking drugs hurt my liver?
Drinking alcohol often or in large amounts can cause irritation in your liver and may lead to scarring over time. When you have hepatitis C, this scarring may happen sooner and be worse than in a person who does not have hepatitis C. It is unknown how much alcohol you can drink safely before it starts to damage your liver. The best thing to do is to either drink no alcohol or drink as little as possible.
Taking street drugs, even marijuana, may also damage your liver or other organs. Some drugs may cause severe liver damage the first time you try them. Avoid street drugs if you do not want to further damage your liver.
Who do I have to tell about my hepatitis C status?
People who should know about your hepatitis C are your health-care providers, such as your doctors, nurses and dentist. Not everyone needs to know about hepatitis C. It is up to you who you tell about your hepatitis C infection. Friends, family and teachers do not have to be told unless you feel comfortable doing so.
It is important to talk about hepatitis C with your sexual partners so they can protect themselves as hepatitis C may be transmitted through sex.
Some university courses and jobs, like medical school and being a doctor or dentist, require you to share information about your hepatitis C status with them. If you are unsure about the need to tell someone about your hepatitis C infection, discuss this with your parents, caregiver and your health-care provider.
If I ever have children, will they have hepatitis C?
The risk of a mom passing hepatitis C on to her baby is quite low, approximately 5%. If you are a father-to-be, your baby will not be at risk for hepatitis C before they are born, unless the mother is also infected.
