Hepatitis C

      Hepatitis C is a blood borne infection. It is transmitted via a blood transfusion, sexually or from an infected mother to her baby during the birth process. 5-6% of the babies born to HCV infected mothers acquire the virus themselves.

      The incubation period of HCV can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. Most people show no symptoms of the disease until signs of chronic liver inflammation occur. If symptoms do occur in the acute stage of the disease, they can be comprised of fatigue, anorexia, nausea, fever or a tender liver. 85% of those people infected develop chronic hepatitis.

      There is no cure for hepatitis C. There is no vaccine or immunoglobulin treatment for hepatitis C. There are also no guidelines or licensed treatments for infants or children. In the person over 18 years of age, antiviral drugs may be used to decrease the viral load in the body and to prevent or slow the disease process

     Testing for hepatitis C before 12 months of age should be by PCR blood test. An anti HCV test before that age will not be accurate as the mother's anti HCV can still show up in the child's blood.

     Of people infected with the disease, 75-85% develop a long term infection, 70% develop chronic liver disease, 15% cirrhosis and less than 3% may die from consequences of a long term.

Cindy Sundman, RN, BSN