How long can you have Hep C without knowing?
Some people may develop hepatitis C symptoms within two weeks of infection. Others might experience a longer delay before noticing symptoms. It could take from 6 months to 10 years or more before someone with the virus becomes aware of any symptoms.
Can you have hep C for 40 years and not know it?
People with an HCV infection commonly go without noticeable symptoms for as many as 20 to 30 years. Those who are infected experience no significant symptoms when they first acquire the infection, and then they can remain symptomless for years, even while the infection is causing damage to their liver and other organs.
Can inactive hep C become active?
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Stage Hepatitis C? In the chronic stage, patients typically go years or decades with no symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as “latent” or “dormant” hepatitis C. Eventually, the chronic hepatitis becomes active with liver inflammation and scarring.
Can you tell how long you have had Hep C?
We don’t have a test that can tell how long a person has been infected with hepatitis C. Do I have liver damage? Hepatitis C can cause damage to the liver. This happens slowly, over 20 to 40 years.
Can Hep C be cured completely?
The Hepatitis C virus is considered “cured” if the virus is not detected in your blood when measured with a blood test 3 months after treatment is completed. This is called a sustained virologic response (SVR) and data suggest that you will stay virus free indefinitely.
Can Hep C go away by itself?
Like the human papillomavirus (HPV), early acute hepatitis C can clear on its own without treatment; this happens about 25 percent of the time. However, it’s more likely that the virus will remain in your body longer than six months, at which point it’s considered to be chronic hepatitis C infection.
What are the stages of Hep C?
stage 1: mild fibrosis without walls of scarring. stage 2: mild to moderate fibrosis with walls of scarring. stage 3: bridging fibrosis or scarring that has spread to different parts of the liver but no cirrhosis. stage 4: severe scarring, or cirrhosis.
What are the final stages of Hep C?
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver over many years, often progressing from inflammation to permanent, irreversible scarring (cirrhosis).
How long does Hep C take to damage liver?
On average it takes about twenty years for significant liver scarring to develop. The symptoms experienced and the damage done to the liver vary dramatically from person to person. Some people will have few, if any, symptoms for many years.
How long does it take for hep C antibodies to show up?
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.
Why do I have Hep C antibodies?
A reactive or positive antibody test means you have been infected with the hepatitis C virus at some point in time. Once people have been infected, they will always have antibodies in their blood. This is true if they have cleared the virus, have been cured, or still have the virus in their blood.
Is an itchy back a sign of hep C?
The toxins that build up in your blood and cause jaundice can also make you itch. You may feel it in just your hands and feet or all over your body. Some people say that it feels like their organs itch. Treatments for hep C can cause dry, itchy skin, too.
What happens after hep C is cured?
Patient-reported outcomes such as fatigue, vitality and mental health improve substantially in the two years following hepatitis C cure for people with cirrhosis, but people with cirrhosis are less likely than others to experience rapid resolution of severe fatigue after successful hepatitis C treatment, according to
Which hepatitis is not curable?
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus (called the hepatitis B virus, or HBV). It can be serious and there’s no cure, but the good news is it’s easy to prevent.
How long after hep C treatment will I feel better?
The healing process takes time, patience and effort. Most hep C patients report seeing treatment side effects subsiding within a few months or longer. Often it takes six months to a year to regain full energy and feel well. Some patients have reported side effects lingering for longer periods of time.