What happens if hepatitis c is not treated

You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. Seven distinct HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been identified. Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.

A normal liver left shows no signs of scarring. In cirrhosis right , scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. The most common form of liver cancer begins in cells called hepatocytes and is called hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis C infection that continues over many years can cause significant complications, such as:. Hepatitis C care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview The liver Open pop-up dialog box Close. The liver The liver is your largest internal organ. Email address.

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Liver cancer Open pop-up dialog box Close. Liver cancer Liver cancer begins in the cells of the liver. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Hepatitis C questions and answers for health professionals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk increases for men who have sex with men and for people who have multiple sex partners, have a sexually transmitted disease, engage in rough sex, or are infected with HIV.

Research has not shown that hepatitis C is spread within licensed, commercial tattooing facilities. Unregulated tattooing and piercing occurring in prisons and other informal settings may put a person at risk of infection. Yes, but this does not occur very often. If hepatitis C virus is spread within a household, it is most likely a result of direct, through-the-skin exposure to the blood of an infected household member.

People who are coinfected are more likely to get cirrhosis as a result of their chronic hepatitis C infection. Of every infants born to mothers with hepatitis C, about six will become infected with the hepatitis C virus. However, the risk is greater if the mother has both HIV and hepatitis C. There is no evidence that breastfeeding spreads hepatitis C, so infected women can safely breastfeed their babies.

However, women with cracked or bleeding nipples should stop nursing temporarily until their nipples have healed. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood, and not enough is known about whether this practice is safe. The American Red Cross external icon does not accept blood donations from anyone who has ever tested positive for hepatitis C or from anyone with current signs or symptoms of hepatitis.

According to the U. Even with acute or chronic hepatitis C, you may be able to donate your organs or tissues. The transplant team will determine what organs or tissue can be used based on a clinical evaluation, medical history, and other factors. For people who develop symptoms, they usually happen 2—12 weeks after exposure to the hepatitis C virus and can include yellow skin or eyes, not wanting to eat, upset stomach, throwing up, stomach pain, fever, dark urine, light-colored stool, joint pain, and feeling tired.

Many people eventually develop chronic liver disease, which can range from mild to severe and include cirrhosis scarring of the liver and liver cancer. Chronic liver disease in people with hepatitis C usually happens slowly, without any signs or symptoms, over several decades. If you are infected with the hepatitis C virus, you can spread it to others even if you have no symptoms.

Regular testing is recommended for people who currently inject and share needles, syringes, or other drug preparation equipment and for those currently getting maintenance hemodialysis. A blood test, called an HCV antibody test, is used to find out if someone has ever been infected with the hepatitis C virus.

This test, sometimes called the anti-HCV test, looks for antibodies, which are proteins released into the bloodstream when someone gets infected with the virus that causes hepatitis C. Test results can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to come back. Rapid anti-HCV tests are available in some health clinics, and the results of these tests are available in 20—30 minutes. Your doctor will help interpret the results from your HCV antibody test and help guide you through next steps.

It is important to know that. After exposure to the hepatitis C virus, it can take 8—11 weeks for an HCV antibody test to be positive.

For most people who are infected, the anti-HCV blood test will become positive by 6 months after exposure. For people with hepatitis C, it is common for liver enzyme levels to go up and down, sometimes returning to normal or near normal. Some people with hepatitis C have liver enzyme levels that are normal for over a year even though they have chronic liver disease.

People with chronic hepatitis C and those with cirrhosis even if they have been cured of their hepatitis C infection should be monitored regularly by a doctor, because these people have a continued risk of complications of advanced liver disease, including liver cancer.

In addition, people living with hepatitis C should. There is no evidence that people can get hepatitis C from food handlers, teachers, or other service providers without blood-to-blood contact. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

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When the liver begins producing cells to fight off cirrhosis, some of these new cells can mutate into cancer cells and cause tumors to develop. The problem is that often the cancer goes undetected until severe symptoms start to make themselves known. Treatments for liver cancer range from ablation destroying the cancerous tissue to chemotherapy to a liver transplant.

Many people with chronic hepatitis C eventually develop chronic liver disease. If left untreated, this will lead to complete liver failure. The good news is that liver failure can be detected through a blood test, CT scan, or liver biopsy. But the only current treatment for total hepatitis C—related liver failure is a liver transplant.

Some of the most common mental health issues associated with hepatitis C are fatigue, depression, and impaired cognition especially memory , says Jesse P.

Some of these conditions are directly related to the virus, such as fatigue, and some are also related to the stigma associated with having a chronic condition that is often associated with substance misuse, he says. Untreated hepatitis C can lead to various types of rashes, including palpable purpura, lichen planus, and even sores on the fingers and toes known as digital ulcerations, says Houghton.

This is caused by an increase in circulating nitric oxide, one of the most important molecules for blood vessel health, which is normally metabolized by a healthy liver, says Houghton. Untreated hepatitis C can have serious health effects on the heart, including congestive heart failure.

Hepatitis C can affect the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart and lungs. This damage can lead to high blood pressure and, eventually, heart failure. Those with untreated hepatitis C may experience a burning, prickling sensation, or numbness. This happens when nerves attached to more than one body part are affected.

Nerve problems brought on by hepatitis C are thought to be related to inflammation of the blood vessel walls caused by the presence of abnormal proteins in the blood, says Houghton. Joint problems include inflammation that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis — leading to painful hand and knee joints. There is some research to suggest that diabetes and hepatitis C are linked.