Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that causes inflammation (swelling and pain) of the liver. This virus is present in the blood of an infected person and can be spread through blood-to-blood contact. In Australia, it is commonly spread through sharing unsterile needles, syringes and other injecting drug equipment.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C infection but treatment is effective for around 30 to 65 per cent of people.

Treatment can help decrease inflammation of the liver and, for some people, can be effective in clearing the virus infection.

Symptoms may be mild when first infected
Many people may not feel ill when first infected with the hepatitis C virus. Others may find their urine becomes dark and their eyes and skin may turn yellow (jaundice), or they may experience a minor flu-like illness. These symptoms may disappear within a few weeks, but this does not necessarily mean that the infection has also gone.

Twenty to 30 per cent of people who have been infected may clear the virus from their blood with no treatment within six months. These people no longer have the hepatitis C virus and are not infectious, but will still have hepatitis C antibodies in their blood.

Chronic hepatitis C
When the initial infection lasts for more than six months, it is called chronic hepatitis C. Symptoms of chronic hepatitis C include:

• Mild to severe tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Soreness in the upper right side of the stomach (under the ribs)
• Fever
• Increased moodiness and depression
• Joint pain.

• Tattooing and body piercing using equipment that has not been properly cleaned, disinfected and sterilised
• Sharing toothbrushes, razor blades or other similar personal items that could have small amounts of blood on them
• One person’s blood coming into contact with open cuts on another person
• Needlestick injuries in the health care setting
• People who received blood transfusions in Australia, prior to February 1990, when hepatitis C virus testing of blood donations was introduced
• Unsterile medical procedures, blood transfusions or blood products and mass immunisation programs provided in a country other than Australia
• Pregnancy or childbirth – there is a five per cent chance of a mother with chronic hepatitis infection passing on the virus to her baby during pregnancy and/or childbirth. Breastfeeding is safe – only cracked or bleeding nipples may be a problem
• Blood-to-blood contact during sex – sexual transmission rates of hepatitis C are very low, but the risk is increased with certain sexual practices or circumstances where there is the possibility of blood-to-blood contact (for example, sex during menstruation and rough sexual practices).

• Avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, nail files or nail scissors, which can draw blood.
• If you are involved in body piercing, tattooing, electrolysis or acupuncture, always ensure that any instrument that pierces the skin is either ‘single use’ or has been cleaned, disinfected and sterilised since it was last used.
• Health care workers should follow standard precautions (infection control guidelines) at all times.
• Wherever possible, wear single-use gloves if you give someone first aid or clean up blood or body fluids.
• Although hepatitis C is not considered to be a sexually transmissible infection in Australia, you may wish to consider ‘safe sex’ practices if blood is going to be present. You may wish to further discuss this issue with your doctor.

• Wear single-use gloves and use paper towel to mop up blood spills and dispose of used paper towels in a plastic bag.
• Wash area with warm water and detergent, rinse and dry.
• Place used gloves into a plastic bag, then seal and dispose of in a rubbish bin.
• Wash hands in warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
• Cover any cuts or wounds with a waterproof dressing.
• Put bloodstained tissues, sanitary towels or dressings in a plastic bag before throwing away.

• Avoid drinking alcohol
• Eat a well-balanced, low fat diet
• Do regular exercise although always rest when tired
• Consult their doctor regularly.

• Your doctor
• A liver specialist (gastroenterologist) referred by your doctor
• Hepatitis C infoline Tel. 1800 703 003
• Hepatitis C Council of Victoria Tel. (03) 9380 4644
• HIV – Sexual Health Connect Tel. 1800 038 125
• DirectLine Tel. 1800 888 236 – for information about where to get clean needles and syringes for drug users
• Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit, Department of Health Victoria Tel. 1300 651 160

• In Australia, hepatitis C is most often spread through the sharing of unsterile drug injecting equipment.
• You can mange the symptoms of hepatitis C by eating a well-balanced diet, doing regular exercise, reducing stress, and reducing (or stopping) the amount of alcohol you drink.
• New combination treatment has greatly improved health outcomes for people with hepatitis C.
• See your doctor immediately if you have any symptoms or if you think you have been put at risk of infection.

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