Is it possible to cure hepatitis c

Currently, vaccines are only available for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Remember that Hepatitis C is transmitted or spread when the blood from a Hepatitis C-infected person enters the bloodstream of someone who is not infected.

Hepatitis C can be spread through sexual intercourse, but the risk is considered to be low. It is extremely rare among monogamous couples, meaning couples who only have sex with one another. The risk increases if you:. To reduce the chance of getting or giving Hepatitis C through sexual contact, follow these guidelines:. This means that you have two infections in your body at the same time. And the rate of co-infection is much higher among injection drug users.

People that are co-infected can be effectively treated. However, since there are two infections to deal with managing them is more complicated. There is no cure for HIV, but it can be controlled. Hepatitis C can be treated successfully. Working closely with a doctor who specializes in managing co-infections will give you the best chance for successful treatment. There are specific risks associated with co-infection. However, treatment options are available and Hepatitis C may be cured or cleared from the body.

Learn more about your treatment options and speak to your healthcare provider today. This is called a sustained virologic response SVR and data suggest that you will stay virus free indefinitely. Try to keep yourself as healthy as possible, keep your medical appointments and get regular check-ups.

Remember that you could become re-infected if you expose yourself to high-risk situations such as injection drug use, and so do everything possible to avoid these situations. Speak with a substance abuse counselor if needed. There are many different types of liver disease. But no matter what type you have, the damage to your liver is likely to progress in a similar way. Whether your liver is infected with a virus, injured by chemicals, or under attack from your own immune system, the basic danger is the same — that your liver will become so damaged that it can no longer work to keep you alive.

Cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure are serious conditions that can threaten your life. Once you have reached these stages of liver disease, your treatment options may be very limited. If you are treated successfully at these stages, your liver may have a chance to heal itself and recover.

Talk to your doctor about liver disease. Find out if you are at risk or if you should undergo any tests or vaccinations. Learn More…. Diagnosing Hepatitis C. Learn more about recognizing symptoms, testing and diagnosis, risk and prevention.

What Causes Hepatitis C? Understanding Your Liver. Your liver does the following important jobs to keep you healthy: It acts like a filter to clean your blood by breaking down things such as alcohol, drugs prescription, over-the counter and street drugs and other harmful chemicals, and removes wastes.

It stores nutrients that you need — such as vitamins, fat and sugar from food — as well as other chemicals, and releases them into your bloodstream when your body needs them. It produces some very important chemicals , like the ones needed to make your blood clot and heal after an injury, as well as a greenish fluid called bile that helps with the digestion of fats. Complications of Chronic Hepatitis C. Cirrhosis Fibrosis is the first stage of liver scarring. But over time, they can experience the following: tiredness weight loss nausea abdominal pain severe itching jaundice yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes Eventually, people can have complications such as fluid in the abdomen and difficulty thinking clearly.

Liver Cancer Like all organs in your body, your liver can get cancer. Liver Failure When someone has advanced liver disease and their liver is severely damaged it may no longer be able to function. Who is at risk? Who should get tested for Hepatitis C? These blood tests are described below: Hepatitis C antibody test This is the screening test used by doctors to show whether or not you have ever been exposed to Hepatitis C at some time in your life, by detecting antibodies in your blood.

If the test result is: Negative, it means you have not been exposed to Hepatitis C and further testing is usually not needed. Positive, you have had Hepatitis C at some point.

However, it does not tell you whether you have it now. Liver enzyme testing usually checks the blood for two main enzymes: ALT alanine aminotransferase AST aspartate aminotransferase Liver function tests also include ALP alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, among other things.

Your Hepatitis C provider will make a recommendation for one of the following tests: Liver Biopsy In order to determine whether the virus has caused scarring to your liver, your doctor may order a liver biopsy. Elastography Instead of a liver biopsy, some providers will test for liver stiffness by using a special ultrasound machine, the most common being FibroScan. Serum markers There are a number of blood tests available to estimate the amount of scarring in the liver.

Imaging tests Your doctor may order tests that take images, or pictures, of your liver to make sure you do not have liver cancer.

How is Hepatitis C transmitted or spread? Is Hepatitis C contagious? You cannot get, or give, Hepatitis C by: Kissing Hugging Holding hands Casual contact Sneezing Coughing Sharing eating utensils Sharing food or drink Breastfeeding unless nipples are cracked and bleeding.

If you develop chronic hepatitis C and it leads to liver cancer or liver failure, you may need a liver transplant. Hepatitis C is one of the most common reasons for a liver transplant. A liver transplant removes a damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy one. The virus lives in your bloodstream, not just your liver. If you have active hepatitis C, continued damage to your new liver is very likely, especially if hepatitis C remains untreated.

However, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports that there are no effective, research-proven forms of alternative treatment or complementary medicine for hepatitis C.

Silymarin, also known as milk thistle, is an herb commonly suggested to help cure hepatitis C liver disease. But a rigorous multi-center study did not find any beneficial effects from this supplement. If you receive a hepatitis C diagnosis, your healthcare provider may advise you to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. The vaccinations are recommended because these hepatitis viruses can lead to additional health and liver complications, especially in those with preexisting liver disease.

Hepatitis C is a bloodborne pathogen, so you can limit your chances of exposure through these healthy lifestyle practices:. However, since the early s, blood product screening tests have been standard protocol for minimizing the risk of this type of transmission.

The CDC recommends universal screening for all individuals over 18 years of age and pregnant women during every pregnancy. Subsequent testing and frequency of testing is based on risk. Talk to your doctor about your needs. Most of the FDA-approved treatments take 8 to 12 weeks to cure the virus, with the most recently approved drug, Mavyret, taking the lowest amount of time for the full treatment. Patients may be able to get the required HCV medications with assistance from private insurance companies, state Medicaid and Medicare plans, or the Veterans Administration.

These insurance programs usually require prior authorization before paying for these medications. They will also usually need criteria to be met, based upon the severity and progression of the disease as well as lifestyle factors and coexisting conditions that could contribute to liver damage.

Recent research indicates that the antiviral drugs used for treating hepatitis C may have the additional benefit of helping to prevent serious complications of the virus, such as cirrhosis from chronic liver damage. According to a study , hepatitis C could be diagnosed more effectively after the initial first evaluation step by utilizing reflex testing. This type of testing involves automatically performing the second evaluation step if the first test step results are positive.

A simple blood screening test can tell your healthcare provider whether you have antibodies against hepatitis C in your blood. A second test for the level of hepatitis C virus viral load will confirm the infection and quantify the amount of virus in your bloodstream.

This could also help to reduce the amount of underdiagnosis in those who have acquired the hepatitis C virus. Every case of hepatitis C begins as an acute infection.

It occurs within the first 6 months after exposure. Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. People can transmit it in various ways, including by sharing contaminated…. Hepatitis C can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Damage to the liver may mean that a person needs to modify their…. Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver. It can be acute or chronic. Here, learn how hepatitis C spreads, the symptoms, and how to prevent….

Is there a cure for hepatitis C? Medically reviewed by Cameron White, M. How cures work Direct-acting antivirals Ribavirin Interferons Choosing a treatment Management Prevention Outlook Takeaway Hepatitis C is a curable liver infection that results from the hepatitis C virus.

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