Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that is carried in the blood and infects the liver. This causes inflammation and scarring of the liver over a long term period. The liver is a very important organ in your body. It helps the body fight infections, break down toxins (poisons) and drugs, digest food, and more. You can’t live without it.
Hepatitis A (HAV) and Hepatitis B (HBV) can also affect the liver. These viruses are easy to confuse with HCV.
The main differences are:
The main differences are:
- Most people clear HAV and HBV after a period of sickness, but people can have HCV for years without knowing it.
- There are vaccines to protect against HAV and HBV, but there is no vaccine for HCV.
Transmission of HCV occurs through blood-to-blood contact. The virus gets into the blood through breaks in the skin or in the lining of the nose and mouth.
The main ways HCV can get inside the body:
- Re-using drug equipment that was used by someone else. This includes needles, cotton filters, cookers, alcohol swabs, tourniquets, water, pipes for smoking crack or crystal meth, and straws for snorting.
- Re-using tools for piercing and tattooing, including needles, ink and ink pots. Also re-using tools for electrolysis or acupuncture.
- Re-using medical equipment that was meant to be used only once, such as needles for vaccines or medicines, or medical equipment that was not cleaned properly before re-use.
- Sharing or borrowing personal care items that might have blood on them, such as razors, nail clippers and toothbrushes.
- Unprotected sex if there is blood involved (including menstrual blood)
- Getting a blood transfusion or organ transplant that was not screened for HCV. In Canada, donated blood has been screened for HCV since 1990. In some other countries, blood was not able to be screened until more recently.
HCV is a strong virus: it can live outside of the body up to 16 days. This means dried blood can also pass the virus. It can also live up to 9 weeks in a needle. Bleach has not been proven to kill it.
Signs & Symptoms
Many people can live with HCV for 20-30 years before experiencing any symptoms.
As the virus progresses, an infected person might start to feel symptoms like:
As the virus progresses, an infected person might start to feel symptoms like:
- Constant fatigue
- Body aches
- Dry, itchy skin
- “Brain fog” (difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, confusion)
- A noticeable yellowing of skin and eyes (called Jaundice)
Testing
You can have HCV and not know it. The only way to know is to get tested. (Places to get tested in Regina: HIV/STI Testing)
It usually takes two blood tests to tell whether you have HCV.
- The first test (an antibody test) checks to see if you have ever come in contact with the virus. A person who has cleared the virus will always test positive for the antibody.
- The second test (a PCR or RNA test) checks to see if you have the infection right now.
Treatment
There are six different strains, or types, of HCV, called genotypes. Knowing the genotype of your virus is important because some genotypes react better to some treatments than to others. It is possible to become infected with more than one genotype after multiple exposures to HCV. This can make treatment more difficult.
About 1 in 4 people clear HCV without treatment, but most people need treatment to cure HCV.
The best treatment for HCV:
About 1 in 4 people clear HCV without treatment, but most people need treatment to cure HCV.
The best treatment for HCV:
- Medication will need to be taken from 8-12 weeks, depending on the type of HCV genotype
- Eat a balanced diet
- Follow safer sex, drug, and alcohol practices
A person who had HCV and spontaneously cleared the virus or was cured through treatment can be re-infected if they are exposed to the virus again. HCV antibodies do not protect against the virus.