Heart Health Monitoring During Religious Pilgrimages

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver and is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This infection can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong condition. The virus spreads primarily through contact with infected blood, most commonly through sharing needles or other drug injection equipment. Healthcare workers can also be exposed through accidental needlespicks. Less commonly, transmission can occur through sharing personal items contaminated with blood, such as razors or toothbrushes, or from mother to baby during childbirth.

Many people with hepatitis C do not experience symptoms, especially in the early stages of infection. When symptoms do appear, they may include fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Because symptoms can be mild or absent, many people are unaware they have the infection until liver damage shows up during routine medical tests.

Laboratory testing plays a crucial role in diagnosing hepatitis C. The initial screening test is an antibody test that detects whether a person has ever been exposed to the hepatitis C virus. If this test is positive, a follow-up test called an HCV RNA test is performed to determine if the virus is currently present in the blood. Additional tests may include liver function tests to assess how well the liver is working and genotype testing to identify the specific strain of the virus, which helps guide treatment decisions. Regular monitoring through blood tests is important for people with chronic hepatitis C to track liver health and response to treatment.

Treatment for hepatitis C has improved dramatically in recent years. Modern antiviral medications can cure most cases of chronic hepatitis C, typically within 8 to 12 weeks of treatment. These medications work by stopping the virus from multiplying in the body. Early detection through laboratory testing is essential because treating hepatitis C before significant liver damage occurs can prevent serious complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. People at higher risk, including those who have injected drugs, received blood transfusions before 1992, or were born between 1945 and 1965, should consider getting tested for hepatitis C.