In the US, around 16000 cases of acute hepatitis C were reported; this statistic is from nearly a decade ago. Although, there has been advances in the treatment of hepatitis C, this figure more or less remains the same. It has been estimated that nearly 3.5 million people have been living with chronic Hepatitis C. Although, this ailment is widespread, very few know about the facts of Hepatitis C.

There can be some misconceptions and confusions, since the disease has symptoms similar to other common diseases such as diarrhea and jaundice. In fact, jaundice is one of the symptoms of Hepatitis C. Also, since there are different strains of the hepatitis virus, people tend to confuse the different types of Hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, Hepatitis V.

Here are five things that will help dispel some misconceptions about Hepatitis C.

1. Hepatitis C spreads through contaminated food and water. One of the common causes of the infection is the use of contaminated syringes; make sure the injections used by your health practitioner or physician is new and clean. Hepatitis C can also spread through blood transfusion if the blood is infected with the virus and not screened for infection. It is best to avoid sharing toothbrushes, nail clippers, or razors, since Hepatitis C spreads through blood.
2. Hepatitis C does not spread through casual contact such as shaking or holding hands, hugging, or kissing. It does not spread through coughing or sneezing. There is no risk of Hepatitis C infection through sexual contact as well. However, having multiple sexual partners might increase the risk of Hepatitis C. The virus does not spread through sharing of food or beverages or through breast milk. The chances of the virus infecting a new born from an infected mother is quite low.
3. Hepatitis C is completely curable. There are new medicines and treatments that are affordable as well as easily accessible from your nearest health center. With antiviral and antibiotics, the virus can be eliminated from your immune system. However, periodic monitoring is required to avoid a relapse.
4. In most cases, it takes decades for acute Hepatitis C to progress to the chronic stage. In most cases, acute Hepatitis C gets cured without any specific treatment. However, it is always better to take preventive measures to avoid progressing to the chronic stage. It is only in the chronic stage that the liver gets severely affected, which might require transplant in the extreme case.
5. There is no other way than a specific blood screening test to detect Hepatitis C. Since the symptoms of Hepatitis C overlap with other common diseases, close monitoring is required to check the progression of the virus in the body.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been at least 30,000 reported cases of acute Hepatitis C infection every year. A study shows that around 3.5 million people were detected with Hepatitis C virus in 2015. The Hepatitis C virus causes inflammation of the liver that occurs over a prolonged period. This makes Hepatitis C is one such disease that does not show immediate symptoms.

It has been observed that about 20 to 30 percent people experience Hepatitis C symptoms in the first six months. The symptoms of Hepatitis C tend to resemble those of common flu. Hence, it is quite difficult to detect whether a person has been infected by the Hepatitis C virus or not. If you get the following symptoms, consult your doctor and ask whether you are at a risk of Hepatitis C infection.

• You frequently experience pain in your upper abdomen. The pain usually occurs on the right side. You will also notice a swelling on this part. This happens due to water accumulation. You might also suffer from diarrhea.
• Your urine is dark and you pass light-colored stool. This is one of the clearest symptoms of Hepatitis C. If you observe these symptoms in yourself, rush to doctor and get tests done to determine whether you are suffering from Hepatitis C.
• You have jaundice. Your skin and eyes develop a yellow tint. You might suffer from constant itching.
• You lose your appetite and lose interest in your daily activities. You tend to be nauseous and experience vomiting.
• You are constantly tired. You experience periodic pains in your muscles and joints. Also, you experience chronic body aches from time to time.
• You might also suffer from extreme mood swings with a persistent feeling of sadness and lack of energy and enthusiasm.

Most of these symptoms appear within first three months of infection. These can last for two to twelve weeks. Sometimes, certain subtle symptoms can occur periodically over decades. It can take about six months to ten years to became aware of the virus in the body. Since most of these symptoms are similar to illnesses such as flu or diarrhea and other viral infections, Hepatitis C often goes undetected in most cases. It is only when the liver stops functioning normally that it becomes clear that the person is suffering from Hepatitis C infection. In extreme cases, the person might suffer from a condition known as cirrhosis. If you observe any of the above six symptoms, ask your doctor to test you for Hepatitis C. After all, prevention is better than cure!

Hepatitis C is one of those diseases that are quite hard to detect. It affects the liver and the immune system. The symptoms occur sporadically over a prolonged period. Also, most of the symptoms tend to overlap with other diseases such as flu, jaundice or diarrhea. This makes the diagnosis of Hepatitis C difficult for doctors.
Also, patients confuse the symptoms with those of common sicknesses and tend to neglect the early signs of infection. Only later, after a lot of time has passed, they are in for a rude shock when their liver starts malfunctioning. Hence, this disease is also known as a silent killer. Sometimes, the symptoms might go away and sometimes they persist. So, a person may suffer from acute Hepatitis C infection or from persistent or chronic Hepatitis C infection.

Acute Hepatitis C: The initial six months of the infection is referred to as acute Hepatitis C. The common symptoms include body aches, fatigue, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea accompanied with vomiting, occasional fever and poor appetite. The symptoms occur within the first three months of infection. They usually last for about two to twelve weeks. Severe symptoms include jaundice, dark urine, and light stool. The person might suffer from diarrhea as well.

Persistent Hepatitis C: In many instances, the Hepatitis C infection is not eliminated from the body within six months. This occurs in 75 to 85 percent of people who are infected with the virus. This condition is known as persistent Hepatitis C. This is a chronic state and requires treatment to flush out the virus from the body.
If not diagnosed, Hepatitis C can be present in the body for 20 to 30 years. If untreated, it will lead to severe damage of the liver. The extreme damage leads to cirrhosis. In worst case scenario, the patient might require a liver transplant.

It is not easy to detect Hepatitis C through symptoms. If a doctor suspects a person has been infected, a blood test is the only way to ascertain whether Hepatitis C virus is present in the body. It is also recommended that persons born between 1945 and 1965 should undergo a one-time Hepatitis C screening. This is because it has been observed that the presence of Hepatitis C is prevalent among people in this. Consult your doctor or local health department if you notice the above symptoms in yourself or someone close to you.