It’s estimated that more than two million people in the United States have hepatitis C. Yet many people are unaware of their infection because they don’t have any symptoms, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2) “Hepatitis C can go undiagnosed for years and generally remain silent until liver damage has accumulated, a process that can take a decade or more,” warns Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease physician and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who is based in Pittsburgh. Despite the fact that some people don’t have symptoms, hepatitis C is a potentially dangerous liver infection. Hepatitis C can be either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis doesn’t always cause symptoms. (3) When symptoms do occur, they may only last a few weeks to a few months, and then spontaneously clear the body, explains Dr. Adalja. Risk factors include sharing needles, having a blood transfusion or organ transplant prior to 1992 (before mandated blood screening for HCV began), a history of HIV, being exposed to bloody needles on the job, having unprotected sex, and being born between 1945 and 1965. (3) The sooner hepatitis C is diagnosed and treatment begins, the lower the risk for serious complications. “Chronic hepatitis C can lead to end-stage liver disease, which is characterized by cirrhosis, liver cancer, and the need for liver transplantation,” says Adalja. (5) As scar tissue develops, it becomes more difficult for the liver to function properly. Blood flow becomes obstructed in the liver, and as time goes by, liver function decreases, notes the Mayo Clinic. (7) Early signs of liver cirrhosis can include swelling or water retention in the ankles or legs, loss of appetite, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, bloody stools, fever, disorientation, and brownish-colored urine. (7) A blood test, biopsy, or imaging test, like a computerized tomography (CT) scan or ultrasound, can look for scar tissue on the liver in order to diagnose cirrhosis. The risk of cirrhosis is also high in those who have a history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol abuse, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (8) Early diagnosis of hepatitis C is also important because cirrhosis isn’t always reversible, although treatment can limit liver damage, notes the American Liver Foundation. (9) Symptoms of liver cancer include loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, and jaundice. (11) Blood tests, imaging tests, and a biopsy can confirm cancerous cells in the liver. Treatment varies depending on the stage of cancer. It might include removal of the tumor, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink or destroy tumors, immunotherapy, or targeted drug therapy. (12) Some people with early-stage liver cancer may also be a candidate for liver transplant surgery. (12) This involves replacing a diseased liver with a healthy donor. “At this stage, liver failure means death or liver transplant,” he adds. (5,9) This is when the liver stops functioning, and for every 100 people with hepatitis C and cirrhosis, about 3 to 6 will develop organ failure, notes the CDC. (10) Symptoms of liver failure include jaundice, swelling in the legs and stomach, bleeding from the stomach, and disorientation. (9) Liver failure isn’t always reversible, in which case liver transplant surgery becomes necessary. (9) Typically, people who receive a liver transplant for hepatitis C liver failure survive for at least five years after their transplant, according to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, even after transplant surgery, the hepatitis C virus may resurface in their body. (5)
Final Word on Hepatitis C Complications
Hepatitis C is a serious infection with life-threatening complications, so it’s important to recognize signs of this virus and see a doctor if you know you’ve been exposed or are at risk. With treatment, over 90 percent of people diagnosed are cured in 8 to 12 weeks with oral therapy consisting of an antiviral medication to eliminate the virus from the bloodstream. (10)
