“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Difference Among Hepatitis A, B, and C? Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are diseases caused by three different viruses. Although each can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis A appears only as an acute or newly occurring infection and does not become chronic. People with Hepatitis A usually improve without treatment. Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can also begin as acute infections, but in some people, the virus remains in the body, resulting in chronic disease and long-term liver problems. There are vaccines to prevent Hepatitis A and B; however, there is not one for Hepatitis C. If a person has had one type of viral hepatitis in the past, it is still possible to get the other types. The hepatitis C virus infects the cells in your liver, causing inflammation (swelling and tenderness) and fibrosis. In people with chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection, inflammation and fibrosis continue to spread. Over time, usually many years, this can lead to cirrhosis. Symptoms of Hepatitis C Hepatitis C affects people very differently – many people with it may have no symptoms at all and may never know they have the virus. There is often little or no relation between the seriousness of the symptoms and the damage to the liver. Symptoms are often hard to pin down and are frequently blamed on other problems. They can include: Mild to serious tiredness (fatigue) Anxiety Weight loss Loss of appetite Inability to tolerate alcohol Discomfort in the liver area (place your right hand over your lower right ribs and it will just about cover the area of your liver) Problems concentrating (‘brain fog’) Feeling sick Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats and headaches Yellow skin or eyes, called jaundice (this is very rare and is a sign of advanced disease or acute infection). Some of the symptoms may come and go. It is not unusual for people with hepatitis C to be diagnosed as having ME or chronic fatigue syndrome. Unfortunately, the liver does not start to complain until it is seriously damaged – often only then do people realise that there is anything wrong. Causes hepatitis C infection Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood. You can get hepatitis C if: You share needles and other equipment used to inject illegal drugs. This is the most common way to get hepatitis C in the United States. You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. As of 1992 in the United States, all donated blood and organs are screened for hepatitis C. You get a shot with a needle that has infected blood on it. This happens in some developing countries where they use needles more than once when giving shots. You get a tattoo or a piercing with a needle that has infected blood on it. This can happen if equipment isn’t cleaned properly after it is used. Treating hepatitis C Hepatitis C can often be treated successfully by taking medicines for several weeks. If the infection is diagnosed in the early stages, known as acute hepatitis, treatment may not need to begin straight away. Instead, you may have another blood test after a few months to see if your body fights off the virus. If the infection continues for several months, known as chronic hepatitis, treatment will usually be recommended. Your treatment plan Treatment for hepatitis C involves: Making lifestyle changes to help prevent further damage to your liver and reduce the risk of spreading the infection taking one or more medications to fight the virus You’ll normally need to take medication for 8 to 48 weeks. The length of time will depend on the exact medicines you’re taking and which version (strain) of the hepatitis C virus you have. Your doctor will advise you about this. There are six main strains of the virus. In the UK, the most common strains are known as genotype 1 and genotype 3. During treatment, you should have blood tests to check if your medication is working. If the test shows treatment is having little effect, it may be stopped as further treatment may be of little use. Lifestyle measures There are some things you can do to help limit any damage to your liver and prevent the infection spreading to others. These can include: Exercising regularly Eating a healthy and balanced diet Cutting out alcohol or limiting your intake Stopping smoking Keeping personal items, such as toothbrushes or razors, for your own use Not sharing any needles or syringes with others Hepatitis C medications Until relatively recently, treatment for chronic hepatitis C usually involved taking two main medicines: Pegylated interferon – a medication that encourages the immune system to attack the virus Ribavirin – an antiviral medication that stops the virus reproducing These medications were frequently just taken together, but now there are new hepatitis C medications that have been shown to make treatment more effective. In many cases, a combination of these newer medications may be taken without needing to take pegylated interferon and ribavirin as well. Read more about all these medications below. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin Pegylated interferon is usually taken as a weekly injection. You can be trained to inject yourself at home. It usually needs to be taken for up to 48 weeks, depending on your circumstances. Ribavirin is available as capsules, tablets or an oral solution. It’s normally taken twice a day with food. It needs to be taken alongside pegylated interferon for up to 48 weeks. For more information, see the National Institute