What is Hepatitis?
How does hepatitis C affect the liver?
How do you get hepatitis C?
Is there a vaccination to prevent Hepatitis C?
How can I avoid getting Hepatitis C?
Should I be tested for Hepatitis C?
How is Hepatitis C treated?
What else can I do to keep my liver healthy?
What can I do to support my friend/relative with hepatitis C?
How should I tell people I have hepatitis C?

What is Hepatitis?

The word hepatitis means inflammation or swelling of the liver. The liver is an essential organ that has hundreds of functions in the body. If it sops working properly it can cause serious illness. Hepatitis can be caused by chemicals or drugs, by drinking too much alcohol or by different kinds of viruses.

There are currently five viruses identified as causing Hepatitis, these viruses have been labeled Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E.

While these viruses may produce similar symptoms and have similar effects, they all vary in how they are transmitted, how each virus is prevented, how they affect a person's health and how they can be treated.

Hepatitis is usually described using one of two terms, 'acute' or 'chronic'. An acute illness is one which affects someone for a short time, and which one could expect to recover from within a few weeks, with no ongoing effects. A chronic illness is one that lasts a long time, sometimes for the rest of one's life.

How does hepatitis C affect the liver?

Hepatitis C infection involves an acute (initial) phase of infection which is usually not noticed and lasts up to six months. During this phase, levels of the virus in the blood rise dramatically until the body's immune response starts producing antibodies. Although our antibodies fight the virus, in around 75% of cases the virus is not eliminated and approximately three out of four people are left with a chronic (long-term) infection.

A chronic Hepatitis infection can result in liver damage because as the virus reproduces in the liver over time, more and more liver cells are changed and destroyed causing scar tissue. This is called fibrosis. Fibrosis can lead to a hardening of liver tissue which affects the normal function of the liver, this is called cirrhosis

In a small percentage of people experiencing cirrhosis, the condition may lead to liver failure or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C affects people differently. Some are not affected by it at all, while others can be affected seriously. Generally speaking, it is believed that around three out of four people with hepatitis C will not go on to develop cirrhosis.

Over a 25-50 year period of infection, it is believed that less than one in 10 people with hepatitis C would develop liver failure or liver cancer

How do you get hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is spread through blood to blood contact.

Knowledge of how hepatitis C is passed on is important for people who are already hepatitis C positive so they can avoid becoming infected with another form of the virus, becoming re-infected, and to prevent transmitting the virus to others. Hepatitis C can be transmitted by:

Sharing or re-using drug-injecting equipment such as syringes, needles and spoons.
Unsterile tattooing, body piercing or body modification.
Needle stick injuries amongst health care workers.
From mother to baby before or during birth.
Sharing toothbrushes and razorblades that might have tiny amounts of blood on them.
Blood transfusion and blood products received before February 1990.
Two people with individual open wounds coming into direct wound contact.
Sex acts involving blood to blood contact.
Unsterile medical procedures.

Some people are unable to identify exactly how they became infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

Is there a vaccination to prevent Hepatitis C?

There is presently NO vaccine available to prevent a person becoming infected with Hepatitis C. Knowledge and prevention are the most important means of avoiding the virus.

How can I avoid getting Hepatitis C?

Summary:

Do not share injecting equipment. Use a fresh needle every time
Ensure any body piercing, tattooing or body modification takes place in a healthy, informed environment, and that any item that pierces the skin is single use or sterile.
Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, nail scissors or nail files.
Whenever possible use disposable gloves when practicing first aid or any medical procedure.
Keep cuts, wounds and grazes covered with waterproof dressings.
Clean up any blood spills thoroughly with bleach, soapy water and disposable paper towels.
Carefully dispose of all bloodstained items such as wound dressings, tampons, and sanitary pads securely in a plastic bag.
Consider safe sex practices (e.g. use of lubricant and a condom) to protect you and your partner from communicable diseases.
A guide to Safer injecting

Should I be tested for Hepatitis C?

There are simple blood tests that can tell you if you have the hepatitis C virus. You can ask a GP for the tests or have them performed at a drop-in clinic.

You should consider having the test if:

You received a blood transfusions or blood products before February 1990.
You have ever injected drugs (including steroids).
You have had a tattoo/s.
You have ever had body piercing or other body modifications.
You have spent time in prison.
You have ever had a needle-stick injury.
You have received an abnormal liver function tests.
You are experiencing hepatitis C like symptoms but have no apparent cause.
You are a Health care worker who has performed exposure prone procedures.
You were born in, or a recipient of blood products from, a country with a high prevalence of hepatitis ie: Asia, South America, the Middle East, Egypt and some Eastern European countries.

How is Hepatitis C treated?

The best course of treatment currently available to treat advanced Hepatitis C involves a combination of two drugs: interferon and ribavirin. This combination of drugs has greatly improved outcomes for people with hepatitis C. The drugs work by reducing the inflammation of the liver and can clear the virus and its symptoms in about 50% of people.

The treatment can be pretty full-on, and it is important to discuss the suitability of this treatment for you, and other options that may be available, with your doctor or health care professional.

Some people with hepatitis C use complementary or alternative treatments to counter its symptoms, and to help deal with the side effects of combination therapy. Some people have had success with traditional Chinese medicine which includes a mixture of acupuncture or Chinese herbs or both. Others have tried homeopathy or naturopathy. If you do decide to try alternative therapies, it is important to ensure you see a qualified natural therapies practitioner.

Whatever treatment choice is made, it is important that people find out as much as possible about the different options. Natural or complementary therapists should work alongside GPs who can monitor progress and possible side effects.

Many doctors advise people with hepatitis C to have the hepatitis A and B vaccinations. Although the viruses are unrelated, such vaccinations will help prevent possible additional liver complications caused by having more than one viral infection at the same time.

What else can I do to keep my liver healthy?

People with hepatitis C should consider the following self-management actions to protect and promote the health of their liver:

Stop drinking alcohol or cut down your alcohol intake.
Consider being immunised against hepatitis A and hepatitis B (see treatments section).
Eat a well-balanced diet that is low in fat and high in fresh fruit and vegetables to help maintain good health.
Learn how to manage stress, rest if you feel unwell and seek counselling if you feel you need it.
When taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs, check with a GP and follow the directions carefully.
If injecting drugs, use safer injecting methods.
Completely cover any wound or cut with a waterproof dressing.
Get adequate sleep
A guide to Safer injecting

What can I do to support my friend/relative with hepatitis C?

If you find out a friend, relative or workmate has hepatitis the most important thing you can do is to be supportive. Find out as much as you can about hepatitis and try and find a way, if they are open to it, to discuss the condition with them. Go easy on them, try to understand if they don't want to talk about it, but be there for them if they do.

You may also want to consider:

Encouraging your family member or friend to refrain from using substances that may damage the liver, such as alcohol and drugs as reducing consumption of these products can significantly reduce the amount of stress on the liver.
Investigating the potential benefits of hepatitis C treatment and facilitating meetings with health care professionals.
Assist them by following a healthy diet together, so that you can meet daily nutritional needs and maintain a healthy weight.
Looking into the benefits of exercise. Physical exercise can help strengthen the body and improve feelings of well-being.
If your friend or relative is experiencing depression, anxiousness, or having trouble coping, encourage them to seek help from a qualified mental health Professional or get a referral from their GP. Many health care workers are experienced in dealing with patients with chronic health concerns and can be very helpful.

How should I tell people I have hepatitis C?

You are not legally obliged to tell people that you have hepatitis C with the exception of a couple of situations: if you are giving blood, you must tell the blood bank; if you apply for the Australian Defence Forces, you must inform them, and if you are a health care worker, and engaging in high-risk medical procedures, you may want to tell.

Understandably, many people find it hard to talk about their hepatitis status. However, with the exception of the situations outlined above, it is entirely your decision whether to disclose your hepatitis status or not.

It is hard to know how people will react. It is advisable to learn as much as you possibly can about hepatitis so that discussing it with them becomes an education, and is less likely to lead to discrimination.

Think carefully about how, when, and why you might want to tell friends, family or people in your workplace. You might want to consider the support of a community worker, hepatitis resource worker or medical professional during the process of letting people know about your hepatitis C. There is also an excellent resource available entitled "Hepatitis C My Rights/My Choice" - you can request a copy on our Request a Resource page.