Hepatitis C virus can cause liver disease. Even though most can recover from the primary phase of hepatitis C infection, a high percentage develop chronic liver infection that leads to serious liver issues and possibly death.
What are the indications?
An infection with the hepatitis C virus usually starts as a flu-like condition. Some might experience one or several of the following:
- Extreme tiredness
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches, nausea or diarrhea)
Infants with hepatitis C virus might also have an distended spleen or liver, grow sluggishly or unable to gain weight. - Dark yellowish urine
- Diminished appetite or weight loss
- Light, clay-colored stools
- Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
- Stomach pain especially in the upper right side of the abdomen
Infants with hepatitis C virus might also have an distended spleen or liver, grow sluggishly or unable to gain weight. If a child has any symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. When the doctor diagnoses the infection, examination is performed and a blood test is carried out.
How does it spread?
The hepatitis C virus can spread via contact with blood. Parents should make sure that household items such as razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers and other items that might contain traces of blood are not shared.
What are the lasting effects of hepatitis C infection?
In some children, hepatitis C can result to persistent liver disease such as cirrhosis or scarring of the liver.
Cirrhosis occurs once the liver cells die and replaced by scar tissue and fat. The liver ceases to function and could no longer eliminate wastes.
Infants who have cirrhosis of the liver due to chronic hepatitis C infection might require a liver transplant to survive. In addition, children infected by the hepatitis C virus are also at risk for developing other serious liver conditions including cancer of the liver.