What's all the fuss about Hepatitis C?

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Hepatitis C is a virus that causes liver disease. Less than one per cent of Canadians may carry the Hepatitis C virus and most don't know they have it. Aboriginal people are becoming infected with Hepatitis C at over seven times the rate as non-Aboriginal Canadians.

How do I get it?

The virus is transmitted when your blood is exposed to an infected person's blood. Prior to 1990, the Canadian blood system did not screen for the Hepatitis C virus. Anyone who received blood or blood product transfusions before

1990 may have been exposed to the virus. People who use injection drugs or share cocaine snorting equipment can be at risk. Tattoos, body piercing, and acupuncture with dirty (not sterile) equipment can spread Hepatitis C. Prisoners have a higher risk of Hep C.

What are the symptoms?

Most people have no symptoms. Some will get a mild flu-like illness when they are first infected. Nearly 85 per cent of people will develop chronic Hepatitis. People may feel generally tired, muscle and joint pains, nausea, trouble concentrating, decreased appetite, or hair loss. Yellowing of the skin and eyes (called jaundice) occurs in 25 per cent of people.

What is the worst that can happen?

The liver helps us remove toxins from our body, create new proteins, and helps in our body's growth, development, and survival. Hepatitis C causes inflammation in the liver, leading to liver damage and scarring.

About 85 per cent of people who have Hepatitis C infection will develop chronic liver disease. About 10 per cent of people with Hepatitis C will develop Cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is extensive scarring that prevents the liver from working properly. Some people with chronic Hepatitis C or Cirrhosis will develop liver cancer. Death can occur from Cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure.

Is Is there a treatment?

Yes. Interferon is a natural chemical produced by the body that can destroy viruses. Ribavarin is a virus-fighting medication. When these two medicines are used together, they can destroy most or all of the virus in about half of all people.

It is also important to eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, stop drinking alcohol (which can damage the liver), stop smoking, and avoid certain liver toxins (e.g., paint fumes).

Avoid putting others at risk. Do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, or scissors. Do not share needles or piercing supplies. If you are Hep C positive, you have a one to three per cent risk of spreading the virus to your partner through sexual intercourse. Use condoms to protect against the virus. Do not donate blood or organs if you have Hep C.

Pregnant women with Hepatitis C occasionally will spread the virus to their unborn child.

However, women with Hep C do not seem to pass the virus to their infant through breastfeeding.

If you think you might be at risk of having Hepatitis C, see your family physician. A blood test will detect the virus.

Contact the Canadian Liver Foundation or www.liver.ca for more information.

This column is for reference and education only and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of an appropriate health care professional. The author assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any outdated information, errors, omissions, claims, demands, damages, actions, or causes of actions from the use of any of the above.