Hepatitis C

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. There are many causes of hepatitis, of which the hepatitis C virus is only one. Please read the separate leaflet called Hepatitis for more information about what the liver is, what it does, and the other causes of hepatitis.

One virus that causes hepatitis is called the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This leaflet is only about hepatitis C. See separate leaflets called Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, which are caused by different viruses. Hepatitis C is also sometimes called 'hep C'.

Hepatitis C is a virus which is carried in the bloodstream to the liver. It can then affect and damage your liver. However, this virus can also affect other parts of the body, including the digestive system, the immune system and the brain.

There are six types of the hepatitis C virus. These different types are called genotypes and they are numbered 1 to 6. The most common subtypes of hepatitis C in the UK are genotypes 1 and 3. It is important to know which type you have, as different types respond differently to treatment. It is possible to be infected with more than one type of hepatitis C at the same time.

Hepatitis C symptoms

Many people with hepatitis C feel entirely well and have few or no symptoms. Any symptoms that may be present (see below) are often initially thought to be due to another illness. This may mean that hepatitis C may be diagnosed when you have had the virus for some time. Many people have hepatitis C without knowing it.

It is helpful to think of two phases of infection with HCV. An acute phase when you first become infected and a chronic (persistent) phase in people where the virus remains long-term.

Acute phase of hepatitis C

Acute means 'new' or 'for a short time'. This phase lasts for the first six months. When first infected with the virus, most people have no symptoms, or only mild ones. If symptoms do occur, they develop about 7-8 weeks after being exposed to the virus and may include: a high temperature, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), joint pain and feeling generally unwell. Some people go 'yellow' (become jaundiced). This is due to a build-up of the chemical bilirubin which is made in the liver and spills into the blood in some liver conditions. It is unusual to have severe symptoms.

Following the initial infection:

• In about one quarter to one half of cases the virus is cleared from the body by the immune system within 2-6 months. If this happens then you will have no long-term effects from the virus. Younger people and women are more likely to clear the virus in this way.

• In 5 to 8 out of 10 cases, the virus remains active in the liver and bloodstream long-term. This is called chronic infection with hepatitis C.

Chronic phase of hepatitis C

When infection with hepatitis C lasts for longer than six months, it is known as chronic hepatitis C infection. The course of the chronic infection varies considerably between people and it is very unpredictable. Of those people who develop chronic infection:

• Some people have mild or no symptoms. However, even if you have no symptoms, you can still pass on HCV to others who may develop problems.

• Some people develop some symptoms due to persistent inflammation of the liver. For example, feeling sick, lack of appetite, intolerance of alcohol, pains over the liver, jaundice and depression. The most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis C are extreme tiredness, poor concentration and memory problems, and muscle and joint aches. There is actually no relationship between the severity of symptoms and the degree of liver damage. This means that some people can have liver inflammation without having any symptoms.

• About one third of people with chronic hepatitis C infection develop cirrhosis over a period of about 20-30 years. Cirrhosis is like a 'scarring' of the liver, which can cause serious problems and 'liver failure' when it is severe. See the separate leaflet called Cirrhosis. Some people with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms for many years until they develop cirrhosis. Only when the liver starts to fail with cirrhosis do symptoms appear.

• A small number of people who develop cirrhosis go on to develop liver cancer.

How do you get hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease. The main source of infection is from blood from an infected person.

• Most cases are caused by using contaminated needles or injecting equipment (spoons, syringes, filters, water for injection, etc) to inject drugs ('sharing needles'). Even a tiny amount of an infected person's blood left on a needle is enough to cause spread to others.

• Some people who received blood transfusions or blood prior to 1991 were infected with hepatitis C from some donor blood. Since 1991 all blood and blood products donated in the UK are screened for HCV.

• There is a risk of contracting hepatitis C if you have a blood transfusion or medical treatment abroad in a country where equipment is not sterilised properly.

• There is also a risk of contracting hepatitis C from needlestick accidents, or other injuries involving blood spillage from infected people.

• There is a small risk of contracting the virus from sharing toothbrushes, razors and other such items which may be contaminated with infected blood. (The virus can live outside the body, possibly for up to four days.)

• There is even a small risk from inhaling drugs like cocaine, as these can make the inside of your nose bleed. If that happens, tiny spots of blood can fall on to the note you are using and, if that is used by someone else, your blood can travel up their nose and into their bloodstream.

• There is also a small risk from re-used equipment used for tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture, etc.

• There is a small risk that an infected mother can pass on the infection to her baby.

• There is a small risk that an infected person can pass on the virus whilst having sex. This risk is higher in men who have sex with men and other people who might have unprotected anal sex.

The virus is not passed on during normal social contact, such as holding hands, hugging, or sharing cups or crockery.

How common is hepatitis C?

There are around 93,000 people living with hepatitis C in the UK. This has reduced over recent years because of improved treatment. Worldwide an estimated 58 million people are infected. About 1.5 million new infections occur every year. Deaths from hepatitis C are reducing because treatment options have become better.

Most cases are in people who inject illegal drugs. It is estimated that up to half of injecting drug users become infected with hepatitis C.

How is hepatitis C diagnosed?

A simple blood test can detect antibodies to HCV in your blood. (Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to attack germs such as viruses, bacteria, etc.) A positive test means that you have at some stage been infected with hepatitis C.

However, this test remains positive even in people who have cleared the virus from their body. (The antibodies remain even if the virus has gone.) Also, it can take up to six months for the antibody test to become positive after a person has first been infected, as the body may take a while to make these antibodies. So, a negative test does not necessarily rule out a recently acquired infection. And a positive test does not mean you have chronic hepatitis C. A repeat test in a few months may be advised in some people who have recently been at risk of catching hepatitis C.

If the antibody test is positive then a further blood test is needed to see if the virus is still present. This is called a PCR test. This is a more specialised test for hepatitis C which detects particles of the virus. Tests may also be done to find exactly which type of HCV you are infected with.

Assessing the severity of the infection

If you are found to have virus present then other tests may be advised to check on the extent of inflammation or damage to the liver. For example:

• Blood tests called liver function tests. These measure the activity of chemicals (enzymes) and other substances made in the liver. This gives a general guide as to whether the liver is inflamed and how well it is working. See the separate leaflet called Liver Function Tests. Other blood tests will also be done for various reasons. For example, tests to check for other illnesses which can be passed on in the same way, such as HIV or hepatitis B. Also tests of other functions of the liver, such as the ability of blood to clot properly, and levels of iron stores.

• An ultrasound scan of the liver.

• A fibroscan - this is a special scan that tests the stiffness of the liver. This gives an indication of the amount of scarring of the liver.

• Other tests may be done if cirrhosis or other complications develop.

• There are other specialised blood tests being developed which assess the development and severity of cirrhosis.

• A small sample of the liver taken to look at under the microscope (a liver biopsy) used to be recommended before considering treatment. However, this is no longer routine prior to treatment. See the separate leaflet called Liver Biopsy.

How can I prevent passing on the virus to others?

If you have a current hepatitis C infection you should:

• Not share any injecting equipment such as needles, syringes, etc.

• Not donate blood or carry a donor card.

• Not share razors, toothbrushes or anything else that may possibly be contaminated with blood.

• Use condoms when having sex. The risk of passing on HCV during sex is small but risk is reduced even further by using condoms.

• Advise anybody with whom you have had sex or shared needles to have tests as well, to check they do not have HCV.

There is currently no vaccine available to protect against hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C treatment

The treatment for hepatitis C has advanced in recent years which has greatly improved the outlook (prognosis) for people with hepatitis C. The main aim of treatment is to clear HCV from the body and so prevent severe liver damage leading to cirrhosis.

If you have acute hepatitis C, you may not need treatment, but will be monitored carefully to see if your body clears the virus on its own, and to keep an eye out for liver damage. Treatment with medicines is advised for most people with chronic hepatitis C. The type of treatment will depend on various factors, including the type of HCV, the severity of the infection and your own health.

The treatments recommended are changing all the time as the treatment of hepatitis C is a developing area of medicine. New treatments continue to be developed. The specialist who knows your case can give more accurate information about the outlook for your particular situation. They can also advise on the side-effects you can expect with each individual treatment. Treatment length varies, depending on your situation, it usually lasts between 8 and 24 weeks.

The usual treatment is with tablets called direct acting antivrial (DAA) tablets. These are highly effective in clearing the infection in most people. Examples of DAAs include: sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir, but there are many others. Sometimes the tablets are used in combination.

New antiviral drugs are being trialled at the moment which may further improve the treatment of hepatitis C.

Liver transplant

For some people with advanced 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis), liver transplantation may be an option. Although this is a major operation, the outlook (prognosis) following a liver transplant can be very good. However, the new liver may also eventually become damaged by the persisting hepatitis C infection.

Lifestyle

Most people with chronic hepatitis C will be advised to eat a normal healthy balanced diet. Ideally, anybody with inflammation of the liver or liver disease should not drink alcohol. If you already have liver inflammation, alcohol increases the risk and speed of developing 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis). People with hepatitis C should also stop smoking as smoking increases the risk of liver damage.

Vaccinations

You should be vaccinated against hepatitis A or hepatitis B if you have never been infected with these viruses in the past. It is also recommended that you are vaccinated against influenza and infection with pneumococcus. Your GP or practice nurse will be able to give you more information about this. There is no vaccination against hepatitis C.

Is hepatitis C curable?

Treatment with DAAs can cure hepatitis C in around 9 out of 10 people. If treatment doesn't work it may be repeated or a different combination of tablets may be recommended. Successful treatment does not stop you from becoming infected with hepatitis C again.