Veterans' Health Issues Main Index

Hepatitis C: The Facts

1. What Is Hepatitis?
2. What Are the Symptoms?
3. Is Hepatitis C Dangerous?
4. How Is Hepatitis C Spread?
5. How Can I Avoid Becoming Infected?

What Is Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is the general name for several different illnesses which all cause the same problem: an inflamed (swollen or painful) liver. The liver is a vital part of the body. If it does not function properly, it can cause serious illness or sometimes even death

Drinking alcohol or taking drugs can cause hepatitis. It can also be caused by a viral infection. There are several types of viral hepatitis including A, B, C, D and E

All these viruses cause similar problems but are spread in different ways. So the ways to prevent people catching the virus are different too Top of Page

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What Are the Symptoms?

In many cases people infected with hepatitis C virus may not become ill. Others may experience a minor 'flu-like' illness which does not require treatment. When first infected some people may find their urine becomes dark and their eyes and their skin may turn yellow (jaundice). Hepatitis symptoms may disappear within a few weeks but this does not necessarily mean that the infection has also disappeared. If you have hepatitis symptoms you should consult your doctor. A blood test can determine if you have been infected

When liver inflammation lasts more than six months the illness is called chronic hepatitis C

The symptoms of chronic hepatitis C may be:

• Mild to severe lethargy (tiredness).
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Soreness in the upper right part of the abdomen (under the ribs).
• Fever.
• Pain in the joints.

Is Hepatitis C Dangerous?

Over 70 per cent of people who have been infected may continue to carry the virus in their blood and become long term or chronic carriers. It is believed that at least 20 per cent of people who are chronic carriers will develop cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver. This process may take 20 years to develop. After some years, a small number of people with cirrhosis may develop liver cancer

It is believed that carriers of hepatitis C remain infectious throughout their lives and may be capable of spreading the virus to others

How Is Hepatitis C Spread?

Blood

The hepatitis C virus is present in the blood of an infected person. If infected blood enters another person's blood stream, that person may catch the virus

The majority of people in Australia with hepatitis C have been infected by:

• Injecting drug users sharing needles and syringes and other injecting equipment.

Hepatitis C can also be spread by:

• Using instruments such as tattooing and body piercing equipment which have not been properly cleaned and sterilised.
• Sharing razor blades or toothbrushes.
• One person's blood coming into contact with open cuts on another person.

People who receive blood transfusions these days do not run the risk of hepatitis C because blood donations are screened for the virus.

Sex

There's a very small risk of catching hepatitis C during sex. However, the risk may be greater if there is bleeding, for example, during menstruation.

Mother to Baby

Mothers who are carriers may on rare occasions pass hepatitis C to their babies during pregnancy, or at the time of birth. There is little risk of a baby catching the virus from breast milk.

People at Risk

Injecting drug users are most at risk of catching the virus

Other people who are at increased risk of being infected with hepatitis C:

• People undergoing skin penetration procedures, such as tattooing, body piercing and electrolysis, with unsterile equipment.
• People who received blood transfusions before February 1990.
• Health care workers exposed to blood.
• Kidney dialysis patients.

A small percentage of people infected with hepatitis C do not appear to belong to any of the above risk groups

How Can I Avoid Becoming Infected?

For people who inject drugs:

• Always wash your hands before and after injecting.
• Never share needles and syringes. Other equipment such as spoons, swabs, filters, tourniquets and water can also be contaminated. Always use new needles and syringes. These are available from some chemists and needle and syringe programs. For further information on where to obtain new needles and syringes or, if necessary

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