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Effects of hep C
Most people will not notice a change in their health when they catch (contract) hep C. The first twelve months of infection is called the ‘acute phase’. During this time the body’s immune response starts fighting the virus. For three out of four people the immune system is not able to clear the virus. Unless they are successfully treated, these people will have a chronic, life-long, hep C infection.
Hep C infection usually involves ongoing liver inflammation (swelling). After around 20 years, many people will remain unaffected while many others will have developed liver damage which makes them feel ill. Some of these people will only be mildly affected while others will feel quite unwell. Over a 20-40 year period, continuing liver damage may result in cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Extensive cirrhosis after a long period of time may result in liver failure or liver cancer. These serious situations are rare (five in 100 people) and may require liver surgery or transplant.
| Our Chronic hep C illness outcomes (100KB PDF) chart shows the different potential outcomes for untreated chronic hep C. It does not show the outcome for individual people. Factors like alcohol intake, age when hep C was caught and current level of liver inflammation may all influence a person’s individual outcome. You should seek medical advice about your own situation.
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Your liver is an internal chemical power plant that converts the food you eat into energy and the chemicals needed for life and growth. It processes chemical substances needed by the body and labels them so they can be sent to specific parts of the body when needed. It filters alcohol and other toxic substances from your body. It also processes hormones, drugs and medications so your body can use them effectively and ultimately dispose of them.
If you have cirrhosis, this means that liver inflammation has led to the build up of scar tissue in your liver. The scar tissue reduces the blood flow through the liver so that the liver cannot carry out its work as well as it should. Risk factors for developing hep C related cirrhosis include:
- Being older than 40 when hep C was first caught
- Being male
- Having hep C for a long time (20-40 years)
- Heavy alcohol intake
- Failure to respond to previous hep C treatment
- Having a viral coinfection (e.g. having hep B or HIV as well)
Cirrhosis is not life-threatening, but it can make you feel quite ill and increases your risk of liver failure or liver cancer. The scar tissue is microscopic and is best monitored by FibroScan or liver biopsy. Your doctor or specialist may suggest you have a fibroscan or liver biopsy in order to better determine your hep C long term outlook.
For more information about long term effects of hep C, phone the Hepatitis Helpline and see the booklet, I have hep C: what could happen to me? (4MB PDF)
Our website is always evolving. If you have ideas or feedback on how we can improve this page, or if you come across errors, please email us by clicking here (don't forget to tell us which page you are providing feedback on).
Stock photos used. People shown may have no actual connection with hepatitis C.
Top image by PeskyMac, taken with thanks from www.flickr.com
This page last updated 14 May 2010
