Hepatitis C is an infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus also known as HCV. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is unrelated to any of the other known hepatitis viruses (A, B, D, and E).
Worldwide, health experts estimate that 180 million people have chronic hepatitis C, with more than 4 million of those cases in the United States. Of people infected, 55 to 85 percent will develop chronic infection, and 75 percent of those with chronic infection will develop chronic liver disease.
Transmission of Hepatitis C
Since 1992, when reliable blood screening procedures became available, the risk of transmission of hepatitis C by blood transfusion has fallen to less than one per million units of transfused blood, according to the CDC.
Rarely, the virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. In addition, an infected pregnant woman can infect her unborn baby.
Hepatitis C is not transmitted through shaking hands, coughing, sneezing, breastfeeding, or sharing cups and utensils.
Hepatitis C Explained
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
- Dark urine
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
Despite a lack of apparent symptoms, some people with chronic hepatitis C may develop serious liver disease that is not initially apparent. In the United States, chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis (severe liver disease) and liver cancer, both of which can be fatal.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis C
The symptoms of liver damage may not appear for several years. Therefore, it is important for people at high risk of infection to be tested for hepatitis C, so they can start treatment as early as possible. High-risk groups include the following:
- People who had transfusions of blood or blood products before routine blood screening began
- People receiving dialysis
- People who may have had intimate contact with anyone infected with hepatitis C
- Health care workers exposed to infected persons
- Current or former injection-drug users
- People with abnormal liver tests
- People who are HIV positive
Treatment of Hepatitis C
Herbal Supplements for Hepatitis C
Laboratory studies suggest that milk thistle may benefit the liver by protecting and promoting the growth of liver cells, fighting oxidation (a chemical process that can damage cells), and inhibiting inflammation. Study results from small clinical trials on milk thistle for liver diseases have been mixed; however, most of these studies have not been rigorously designed, or they have looked at various types of liver diseases-not just hepatitis C. High-quality, well-designed clinical trials have not proven that milk thistle or silymarin is beneficial for treating hepatitis C. The HALT-C study mentioned above found that silymarin use by hepatitis C patients was associated with fewer and milder symptoms of liver disease and somewhat better quality of life, but there was no change in virus activity or liver inflammation. The researchers emphasize that this was a retrospective study, not a controlled clinical trial. More research on milk thistle for hepatitis C is needed before a recommendation can be made.
Milk thistle is generally well tolerated and has shown few side effects in clinical trials involving patients with liver disease. It may cause a laxative effect, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, fullness, and pain, and it can produce allergic reactions (especially among people who are allergic to plants in the same family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, and daisy).
Other supplements are also being studied for hepatitis C. For example:
- Ginseng has shown some beneficial effects on the liver in laboratory studies but has not yet shown effects in people.
- Thymus extract and colloidal silver are sometimes marketed for the treatment of hepatitis C, but there is currently no research to support their use for this purpose. Colloidal silver products can cause serious side effects.
- People with chronic liver disease sometimes use licorice root or its extract glycyrrhizin. Some studies, reported from outside the United States, have looked at glycyrrhizin administered intravenously for hepatitis C. Preliminary evidence from these studies suggests that glycyrrhizin may have beneficial effects against hepatitis C. However, additional research is needed before reaching any conclusions.
- Preliminary studies conducted primarily outside the United States have examined the potential of the following herbal products for treating chronic hepatitis C: lactoferrin, TJ-108 (a mixture of herbs used in Japanese Kampo medicine), schisandra, and oxymatrine (an extract from the sophora root). More research is needed before the safety and effectiveness of these products can be fully evaluated.
1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
3. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
