Hepatitis C is one type of hepatitis. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a hepatitis virus. Hepatitis C can be either acute or chronic. Acute hepatitis C is the first six months of infection. Many acute infections become chronic.
Asymptomatic
In more than half of the cases of acute hepatitis C, there are no symptoms. Because of this, hepatitis C is often not diagnosed until after it has become chronic.
Symptoms
When symptoms do present themselves, they are often mild and not specific just to acute hepatitis C making the diagnosis less likely. The symptoms that may appear are flu-like symptoms, fatigue, nausea, jaundice, abdominal pain, itching or poor appetite.
Transmission
Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood to blood contact. This occurs through such activities as injection drug use, sexual intercourse, child birth and health care exposure.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis during the acute phase of hepatitis C is uncommon because of the lack of or few mild symptoms. Diagnosis is made with a blood test that looks for anti-HCV antibodies, which are not seen in many people until a few months after exposure.
Prevention
Hepatitis C transmission can be prevented in most cases by following safety guidelines. Avoiding unsanitary tattoos and body piercings, using latex condoms for sex, not sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia and avoiding needle pricks in a health care setting are all guidelines that should be followed.
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