What Exactly Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is just one of the diseases covered by many medical facilities that do STD tests. This is because it can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person without using a condom. However, transmission is more common through sharing syringes with infected people. Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus is responsible for the inflammation of the liver.

Only 25% of people who have just been infected with the virus actually exhibit any symptoms. In its early stages, symptoms of a hepatitis C infection include weakness, loss of appetite, rashes on the palms, weight loss and breast enlargement in men. Due to the general difficulty in detecting this infection through physical symptoms, it would be advisable to have a number of STD tests done as a precaution. The continued presence of the hepatitis C virus in the system will cause scarring of the liver. When the infection becomes serious, the liver may begin to fail and the patient will need a transplant to survive. This is why early detection is so important.

Some STD tests that show higher than usual levels of liver enzymes in the blood indicate that an individual may have hepatitis C. The EIA (Enzyme immune-assays) test provides a clearer picture. It screens for antibodies that will be present if HCV is in the body. These antibodies can be detected as early as six weeks after infection. A liver biopsy is also done to determine the extent of damage to the liver.

Once the results of all of the medical examinations have occurred and have been reviewed and a hepatitis C infection been confirmed, treatment must be discussed. It is not necessary to get treatment, especially if the chances of developing liver problems are low. In case treatment is necessary, the first course of treatment will be antivirals. If the medication does not work and the liver becomes severely damaged, the only other option is surgery. The damaged liver is replaced with a healthy one. A transplant is not a cure, therefore, the patient will have to continue taking antiviral drugs.

Hepatitis C is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. If left untreated, the virus can cause serious health issues and even death. These tests will show that the level of liver enzymes is elevated indicates that further tests are needed. The virus can be treated but if it becomes chronic, this is something that you will have to live with for life.