Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. It is estimated that around 2.4 million individuals in the country are living with this virus. This disease can be acute or chronic, and in severe cases, cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even cancer. Acute infections are short-term and last only up to 6 months, and if these infections last a long time in the body, they become chronic.

It is necessary to understand the signs and treatment options of Hepatitis C to catch and cure the disease at its earliest. Given below are some of the common signs and treatment options of Hepatitis C:

Acute Hepatitis C –  Signs and Symptoms
Acute Hepatitis C is often called the silent epidemic due to its lack of symptoms. Even if the symptoms develop, they are so often mistaken for other viral infections that it is hard to get a diagnosis. The symptoms, if any, usually show up after 2 to 12 weeks of infection. These symptoms can include

• Fever
• Unexplained fatigue
• Pain in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the joints
• Clay-colored stools
• Dark-colored urine
• Jaundice (rare)

Chronic Hepatitis C – Signs and Symptoms 
If the acute Hepatitis C persists in the body for longer periods, it transforms into the chronic version of this disease. This form of Hepatitis also does not show any symptoms and may be diagnosed during a routine blood test. However, it can lead to certain complications like

• Liver disease (this can occur even 20 years after infection)
• Liver failure
• Liver scarring or cirrhosis (occurs in 20 percent of people diagnosed with Hepatitis C)
• Liver cancer

Treatments
It is essential to know the signs and treatment options of Hepatitis C, so proper steps can be taken to cure the disease. If the virus is diagnosed via blood tests, then the doctor might prescribe a variety of antiviral medications to treat Hepatitis C. There are also vaccinations to prevent the disease. In severe cases of chronic Hepatitis C, a liver transplant may be required.

• Antiviral Medication
  Most cases of acute Hepatitis C can be cured by taking a course of antiviral medication over 12 weeks. The goal is that at the end of 12 weeks, no virus should remain in the body. Recent medical advances have made it possible to increase the effectiveness of the medication, make them give better results in shorter times, and also cause fewer side effects like headaches or fatigue.
  In fact, these days, acute Hepatitis C can be cured in just 8 weeks with proper medications. The antiviral medicine prescribed depends on the genotype of the Hepatitis C virus, the extent or presence of any liver damage, the medical history of the patient, and the previous medications taken. These days, direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) are available that cure most cases of acute and chronic Hepatitis C. These work by disrupting the reproduction process of the viral cells. A few of these DAA’s include
  • Sofosbuvir
  • Daclatasvir
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2a
  • Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir
  • Glecaprevir and Pibrentasvir
  • Elbasvir/Grazoprevir
• Liver Transplant
  If the chronic Hepatitis C disease has caused severe liver problems like cirrhosis, damage, etc. then the only course of treatment left is a transplant. In this situation, the doctor replaces the Hepatitis C patient’s damaged liver with a healthy one from a donor. However, it needs to be noted that transplant alone cannot cure chronic Hepatitis C. There is a chance of the disease recurring, and DAAs need to be administered post-transplant to treat the condition.
• Vaccinations
  While there is no vaccination for Hepatitis C, doctors sometimes recommend getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B as a form of protection.