Yes. You can be infected again even if you have cleared the virus or were successfully treated and cured. This is why people who currently inject and share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment, along with those who receive maintenance hemodialysis, should be tested for hepatitis C on a regular basis.
Is Hep C still contagious after treatment?
Patients with chronic hepatitis C that has been resolved through therapy or immune response may still be able to infect others with the virus . Patients with chronic hepatitis C that has been resolved through therapy or immune response may still be able to infect others with the virus.
What happens after hep C is cured?
Here's an amazing fact: Once you're cured of Hepatitis C, liver damage stops . And over time (different for everyone, but possibly five years or more), your liver can heal itself through regeneration. That's right, the thing grows back!
Can Hep C be 100% cured?
Today's treatments are all oral and can be completed in as few as 8–24 weeks . Additionally, many of today's treatments have high cure rates of 95% or higher. A patient is considered cured if the hepatitis C virus is not detectable in their blood months after treatment has ended.
How long can a person live after being diagnosed with Hep C?
People with hepatitis C can live many years after diagnosis , but the range varies. A 2014 study showed that patients infected with hepatitis C virus died on average 15 years sooner than people who did not have the illness. With hepatitis C, the liver becomes seriously damaged due to inflammation.
Will I always test positive for hep C?
A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood . This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood.
Why is hep C so bad?
When a chronic infection occurs, it can cause cirrhosis , or scarring of the liver, over time. As HCV progresses, symptoms like skin problems, blood disorders, and weight loss may appear. Dangerous outcomes like severe liver damage, liver cancer, and liver failure can also occur.
Can hep C be transmitted through saliva?
Hepatitis C is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.
Can you live a normal life with hep C?
The prognosis of chronic HCV is typically very good, and as treatment continues to improve, it will only get better. Most people with chronic HCV can live a normal life , providing that doctors are able to diagnose it before any liver damage or other complications occur.
What are the final stages of Hep C?
- Easy bleeding or bruising.
- Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Intense itching.
- Abdominal pain.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea.
- Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs.
- Problems with concentration and memory.
Can Hep C go away?
Most people who are infected with hepatitis C don't experience any symptoms for years. However, hepatitis C usually is a chronic illness (which means it doesn't go away on its own) .
Can you have hep C for 40 years and not know it?
When you have hepatitis C, it's possible to go for years without knowing you're infected . If you feel fine, does that mean you don't need to treat the infection? It's important to understand how the virus works. After you're infected, chronic hepatitis C may silently hurt your body.
Do you have to tell someone you have hep C?
For most people there is no legal obligation to tell your employer that you have, or have had hep C.
What can cause a false positive for hep C?
You may receive a false-positive result if your antibodies are triggered by another infection . People who've recovered from hepatitis C on their own may also get a false-positive anti-HCV test result. In rare cases, lab error leads to a false positive.
What does hep C pain feel like?
Many people with chronic HCV suffer from aches and pains in their joints . A variety of different joints can be involved but the most common are in the hands and wrists. These pains are often minor but occasionally the pain can be quite severe.
How does Hep C make you feel?
Acute hepatitis C usually goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms. When signs and symptoms are present, they may include jaundice, along with fatigue, nausea, fever and muscle aches . Acute symptoms appear one to three months after exposure to the virus and last two weeks to three months.
