Its asymptomatic nature makes it a killer in disguise and high number of victims, makes Hepatitis C (HCV) the deadliest virus. Talking about India, the figures have revealed that almost 12.5 million people are affected from HCV across the country; in another words, every 15th carrier of HCV is an Indian. However, on positive note, timely treatment may help in complete eradication of the virus.

“Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects as many as 175 million people across the world. It can become life threatening if it remains undetected for long,” says Dr Parimal Lawate, gastroenterologist at Jehangir Hospital.

Worldwide, an estimated three to four million people are infected with the virus each year. In India alone, the death rates of Hepatitis C patients exceed over a hundred thousand per year. HCV kills people four times more than HIV every year (WHO estimate).

What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by various viruses. Over the time, hepatitis seriously damages the liver and can eventually lead to liver cancer, the need for liver transplantation or even death. HCV accounts for one-fourth of all cases of chronic liver disease in India.

There are at least six different strains of the hepatitis virus, including hepatitis A, B, and C. Hepatitis B and C are considered the most serious strains and affect the greatest number of people.

Who is at risk?
The most common risk factor for Hepatitis C infection today is intravenous drug use, especially through sharing of contaminated needles. In fact, 60 per cent to 80 per cent of all IV-drug users are infected with the HCV.

Other risk factors include tattooing and body piercing if the tattoo/body piercing needles are not properly sterilised.

Although Hepatitis does not spread easily through sexual intercourse, a high-risk behavior such as multiple sexual partners, is associated with an increased risk of HCV. Blood transfusions are another leading cause of HCV where unsuspecting patients are given blood, affected by Hepatitis C virus.

HCV is Curable
Unlike HIV, Hepatitis C can be cured. There are proven treatments that enable people to eradicate the hepatitis C virus from their bodies for good. Without effective treatment however, hepatitis C can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure. The disease is responsible for a majority of hepatocellular carcinoma cases, of all cases of liver 50 to 75 per cent are caused by HCV. In about 60 per cent of all liver transplants, the transplants are carried out on people with HCV.

The Symptoms
There may be no symptoms in the first six months of infection. Nearly 20 per cent of those infected clear the virus from their body naturally and experience no long-term effects of the infection.

However, for the remaining 80 per cent a chronic or long-term infection is likely to develop. The course of a chronic hepatitis C infection is extremely varied and unpredictable. Because of the common absence of symptoms, many people are unaware that they have a hepatitis C infection until sometime after infection.

Another reason so many people with hepatitis C remain undiagnosed is that many of the symptoms are subjective, at least in severity, and easy to put down to something else. So, for example, depression, fatigue, skins problems, insomnia, pain and digestive disorders could all have other causes as well. Nine out of 10 people, who have Hepatitis C, are not even aware of it. For these reasons Hepatitis C is often referred to as — a silent killer.

Drug treatment to eradicate the virus has advanced greatly in the last few years. With effective treatment, 80 to 90 per cent of people with genotype 2 or 3 of HCV can be cured and about 40 to 50 per cent of people with genotype 1 HCV can be treated effectively.

Preventing HCV
Currently, there is no vaccine for HCV. The best way to prevent HCV is to avoid high-risk activities.

Is there a test for HCV?
Four categories of HCV laboratory tests are available -- (1) liver enzyme tests, (2) tests to detect antibodies to HCV, (3) tests to detect the virus, and (4) HCV genotyping.

Is there a treatment for Hepatitis C?
Pegylated Interferon Alfa 2b or 2a with Ribavirin Capsules is the recommended by doctors during the course of treatment for chronic Hepatitis C. Conventional Interferon is also prescribed with Ribavirin for treating Hepatitis C.

* One in every five with chronic HCV develop irreversible liver damage (cirrhosis)
* About one in every four with cirrhosis due to HCV, progress to liver failure and die
* HCV is responsible for as many as one in every four cases of liver cancer
* Two out of every three liver transplants are carried out on people with HCV
* At least one in every three people with HIV also have HCV
* About 175 million people worldwide suffer from HCV