Mode of transmission
There are several cases (30 per cent) of hepatitis C from unknown origin or community acquired. Other main way include --
- Contact with an infected person's blood.
- Sharing drug needles
- Getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (hospital workers can get hepatitis C this way)
- Having sex with an infected person, especially if one or the partners has other sexually transmitted diseases
- Being born to a mother with hepatitis C
- Getting a tattoo or body piercing like ear piercing with unsterilised, dirty tools
- Organ transplantation from an infected person

Hepatitis C does NOT spread by --
- Shaking hands with an infected person
- Hugging an infected person
- Sitting next to an infected person
- Sharing clothes, plates, glass etc.
So, a patient of hepatitis C can lead a normal social life.

Symptoms
Most people with hepatitis C don't have symptoms.
However, some people with hepatitis C feel like they have the flu. Some non-specific symptoms are --
- feeling of tiredness
- feeling sickness to stomach
- fever
- not willing to eat
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- dark yellow urine
- light-colored stools
- yellowish eyes and skin

Symptoms like liver cirrhosis and liver cancer appear at the end stage of liver damage. This criteria has made hepatitis C most dangerous. There is almost nothing to do when people notice the disease.

If you have symptoms or think you might have hepatitis C, go to a doctor.

Tests for hepatitis C
To check for hepatitis C, blood should be tested with anti-HCV (antibody). This screening test is the easiest way to detect hepatitis C.

Liver biopsy can be done for end-stage liver disease to see the pathology of liver.

Importance of screening test
Hepatitis C virus (a type of RNA virus) displays genomic diversity, with different genotypes. The virus undergoes sequence variations during chronic infections. So it is difficult to invent a vaccine for the ever changing HCV.

As there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C, screening is the only way to detect the case early to take measures.

Screening serves the following purposes --
- prevention of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer
- ensures better quality of life
- helps in early detection of liver diseases associated with hepatitis C and ensures early treatment

Prevention
To avoid getting the disease, following measures should be followed --
- Don't share drug needles with anyone.
- Wear gloves if you have to touch anyone's blood.
- Practicing safe sex and using condom during sex with an infected person.
- Don't use an infected person's toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it.
- If you get a tattoo or body piercing, make sure it is done with clean tools.

What to do if Hepatitis C is positive?
- If you have hepatitis C, don't give your blood or plasma. The person who receives it could become infected with the virus.
- Don’t donate an organ
- Have protected sex
- Consult with a doctor

Bangladesh perspective
Around 40 lakh people in the country are believed to be infected by hepatitis C.

This was revealed at a seminar titled ‘Mass Awareness to Prevent Hepatitis C’ organised by Sandhani Central Committee in the city few days ago. Keynote speaker of the seminar Dr Mani Lal Aich Litu, advisor of Sandhani Central Committee showed in his presentation the prevalence of hepatitis C carriers among different population. There are 5.5 percent carrier among apparently healthy persons, 6.2 per cent among the blood donors, 56 per cent among hepatocellular carcinoma patients and 20 - 60 per cent among the chronic liver disease patients. So the condition of our country is very alarming and there is dire necessity of mass awareness of hepatitis C.