Hepatitis C Stages

Hepatitis C is usually not recognized until it has reached chronic stage and so it is known as silent killer. Read on to know about all the hepatitis C stages, as it might help detect the disease earlier.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for causing the acute or chronic liver disease of hepatitis C, the transmission of which takes place only through blood. Even though hospitals and nursing homes today screen the blood to check for hepatitis C, before any transfusion, ruling out hepatitis C transmission by this means, it is estimated that about three percent of the world's population is chronically infected with hepatitis C currently. This includes four million people in the United States, making it one of the greatest public health threats of the century. According to the available statistics, more than 80 percent of hepatitis C infections become chronic.

It is really shocking that the major cause of liver transplant in the U.S is liver failure due to hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer, for which most often liver transplantation is necessary. The early hepatitis C stage is generally not recognized because the disease may take as long as 20 years to show the severe symptoms. So it is also called the 'Silent Epidemic'. It is not passed on to child from mother, during birth, unlike hepatitis B. Chronic hepatitis C can be diagnosed by blood testing, liver biopsy and with the help of other molecular tests for detecting the virus. Read more on is hepatitis C contagious?.

Causes of Hepatitis C

The most frequent modes of hepatitis C infection are noted to be through the use of syringes for intake of intravenous drugs by multiple people and high risk sexual activity. But tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture and ear piercing can also contribute to the spread of viruses like hepatitis C. The chances of contracting the hepatitis C infection are higher in sexually promiscuous individuals and not in monogamous couples. Manicures, sharing of toothbrushes and blade razors can lead to hepatitis C infection. Sometimes, a person may not progress to chronic liver disease but if he is infected by the virus, he carries the virus for life. Thus, he is able to transmit the virus to others throughout his life. Individuals can carry hepatitis C for decades and can become the cause of spread of hepatitis C.

Stages of Hepatitis C

Absolutely no symptoms of the disease are noticed in about 80% of the people having hepatitis C. They can infect others though they look healthy. In some cases, until liver failure or the occurrence of the symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver, symptoms of hepatitis C are not detected.

Early Hepatitis C Stage: Infected persons may notice one or some of the following symptoms. It is also possible that no symptoms are noticed.

Flu like mild fever

Muscle and joint aches

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite

Swollen, inflamed liver

Vague abdominal pain

Diarrhea

Dark urine

Jaundice (noted in some cases)

Light colored stools

Weight loss

Itchy skin

About 20 % of infected persons experience disorders of the thyroid, intestine, eyes, joints, blood, spleen, kidneys, and skin. It is observed that about 85 % of the infected individuals, are not able to get rid of the virus, as a result of which, they end up having a long term liver infection, called chronic hepatitis C. As the early hepatitis C stage is difficult to detect, the next stage, that gets detected a little more often, is chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic Hepatitis C Stage: Chronic hepatitis C is confirmed by elevated liver enzymes and a positive antibody test. Fatigue is the most common symptom which can take years to actually alarm an individual that something may be wrong. Other symptoms noted are as follows.

The scarring within the liver is worsened

Blood can not flow freely through the liver

Dysfunction of liver

Consequent liver cirrhosis

Shrunken and hardened liver

Nausea, loss of appetite

Weakness and weight loss

Stomach or abdominal pain

Spider angiomas, spider-like blood vessels developed on the skin

Final Hepatitis C Stage: During the final stage of hepatitis C, liver continues to get further damaged and scarred, accompanied by the following symptoms.

One or more of its functions are not at all performed by the damaged liver, leading to diagnosis of liver failure. Liver may stop removing harmful toxins or drugs from the blood or may stop making enough of the proteins required by the body to function properly

Bleeding in the intestine

Slow mental function

Itchy skin

Change in personality

Bruising or bleeding easily

Development of varices

Bleeding in the stomach and esophagus

Type 2 diabetes

Insulin resistance

High blood pressure within the liver

Gallstones

Sensitivity to medications

Every case of hepatitis C can be different. Some people have very bad symptoms, some have no symptoms or very few symptoms. It is therefore that hepatitis C symptoms and treatment information are heavily interrelated and interdependent. It is estimated that the death rate from hepatitis C will soon be more than the death rate due to HIV/AIDS. It can only get worse, if early detection of the hepatitis C stages are not made followed by prompt measures taken to treat infected people, to prevent the spread of hepatitis C.