The Hidden Symptoms of Hepatitis C
If you, or someone you love, suffer from
hepatitis C, then you’ll know just how devastating this virus can be.
While the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can do a lot of damage in terms of
general discomfort, it can also manifest itself in very frightening and
destructive ways, such as cirrhosis of the liver.
There are currently around 3.5 million
people in the US living with the HCV, but most of them actually have no
idea that they’re infected and that their livers could be compromised.
The reason for this is because, in about 70-80% of the reported acute
cases, patients experience no symptoms at all or they experience vague
symptoms that can easily lead to a misdiagnosis. This has led physicians
and researchers to refer to HCV as the silent epidemic.
Thankfully, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for HCV
sufferers; in 2011 a drug was released which wipes out the virus in just
8-12 weeks. However, just because scientists have found a way to treat
the HCV, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a major threat to some members of
the population.
As already mentioned, symptoms aren’t always present in infected
patients, but there are some symptoms that can be easily linked to other
illnesses, which will often lead to misdiagnoses.
Below are some of the
hallmark symptoms:
• Fatigue or weakness
• Nausea
• Lack of hunger
• Muscle or joint pain
• Weight loss
How Does the Hepatitis C Virus Spread?
Like most viruses, Hepatitis C can be
transferred through the blood in a number of ways, some of which might
not always be obvious.
Below are the populations that are most at risk
of contracting the HCV:
• Injection drug users, both active and inactive
• Patients who received clotting factor concentrates made before 1987
• Recipients of blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992
• Chronic hemodialysis patients
• HIV patients
• Offspring of HCV-positive mothers
• Healthcare workers who have been pricked by needles
If you fall into one of the above categories and you’re experiencing any
of the symptoms mentioned above, then you need to have a serious talk
with your doctor about the HCV. Thankfully, testing is simple and
non-invasive, and the results come back quickly.