Hepatitis C is one of the common infections diseases. Hepatitis C is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).  Hepatitis C virus attacks liver and may result in serious damage to liver. In worst case, liver may stop functioning. Liver is a very important organ of body. It helps body to carry out day to day activities. Without liver, there is no concept of life.

Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C is also categorized into two types or stages, acute stage and chronic stage. Patients carrying hepatitis C virus for more than six months are said to have chronic hepatitis C. People can have chronic hepatitis C without showing any hepatitis C symptoms. It is often accidentally discovered. Hepatitis C virus can take about 10 years to show any damage to liver. When hepatitis C damages liver to a serious degree, it starts showing hepatitis symptoms. Hepatitis C cure rate is about fifty one percent. If hepatitis c virus cases liver cancer then liver transplant may be required to survive.

Hepatitis C symptoms

As stated earlier, in early stage Hepatitis C patient does not show any hepatitis symptoms until a liver damage is caused. However few people may show following hepatitis C symptoms.

-         Pale eyes and pale skin color is one of most seen hepatitis symptom.

-         A lengthier than regular period of time for bleeding to impede.

-         People suffering from hepatitis often complain too much fatigue.

-         Less desire to eat is one of common hepatitis C symptoms.

-         Yellowish colored urine

-         Pain in upper stomach and nausea like symptoms

-         If infection is serious, swelling in stomach may be seen.

Hepatitis C diagnosis

As hepatitis virus resides in blood, blood test is required to diagnose virus presence. Blood test called Anti-HCV is used to detect HCC virus. An anti-HCV test only show that patient is suffering from hepatitis C, it cannot determine whether virus is active and how much amount of virus is present in blood. The numbers of viruses present per milliliter in blood determine the intensity of infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) real time quantitative test is used to determine HCV viral load which shows the intensity of hepatitis infection and quantity of virus in blood. This test is also used to see if the patient is showing any positive response to treatment.

Hepatitis B is the most common form of Hepatitis. It causes serious infection in liver. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) attacks human liver and outcomes liver inflammation, which is known as Hepatitis B.

When someone is first time affected with Hepatitis B virus, it is known as “Acute Hepatitis B”. Most of the affected people fight with this acute infection and recover without any medical treatment. If virus sustains more than six months, then the affected person is said to have chronic hepatitis B. This means that virus may remain in blood for a long time, causing serious problems including liver cancer. It is very important to detect hepatitis B, so that it can be treated. Note that, not all people with chronic hepatitis B need medical treatment and they can expect to live long.

Hepatitis B Symptoms

Almost, all hepatitis types have common hepatitis symptoms. In acute stage, hepatitis B virus does not show any specific hepatitis symptoms. Only about one percent people show serious hepatitis symptoms. Remember, at this stage, body is trying to fight with virus. At this stage following flu-like symptoms may appear.

-         Fever

-         Tiredness

-         Muscle or Joint Pain

-         Loss of appetite

-         Mild nausea

-         Vomiting

If the infection is serious, the affected person my suffer from serious nausea, vomiting. One of the most known hepatitis symptom is yellow color of eyes and skin known as jaundice, and swelled stomach. Paleness and swollen stomach  condition is serious and requires immediate medical treatment.

Mostly, Hepatitis B affects silently. People may suffer from chronic hepatitis for years without knowing. But this can lead to serious liver damage. So, it is very important for anyone to know if he has been victim. And every one should have knowledge about hepatitis B symptoms.

If you feel that you are suffering from Hepatitis B symptoms, please see your doctor. Only a simple blood test will clarify this.

Different types of tests are conducted for Hepatitis B.  All the tests are done by taking blood sample. These tests are taken to detect and monitor the viral infection in blood.

1- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Test (HBsAG)  and Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBs)

Hepatitis B surface Antigen Test (HBsAG) is very initial level Test. When hepatitis B virus infects a person, this test results positive. Actually this a type of protein that is  found on outer surface of virus and it becomes detectable in blood. When our body defense system detects this protein, it produces Surface Antibody to provide protection against Hepatitis B. If body succeeds to fight against virus, Anti-HBs is found to be positive and the person becomes immune to Hepatitis B.

If a person is positive HBsAG, it is recommended that body should be allowed to fight against this virus with out any medication if no serious symptoms of hepatitis are found. If the virus sustains for more than six months then this person is said to have chronic hepatitis B and treatment should begin for this. The ultimate goal of all treatments is to achieve Surface Antibodies.

2- Hepatitis B e-Antigen Test (HBeAG)  and Hepatitis B e Antibody (Anti-HBe)

Is virus effectively replicating itself? Answer to this question provides a base to decide whether to start a treatment for Hepatitis or not. If HBeAg is positive or reactive, this means that virus is active and treatment should be taken. If it is negative it means that virus is not active and it is not going to harm body quickly.

E-antigen is also a protein. Body immune system tries to kill e-Antigen by producing Anti HBe bodies. Most of the modern Hepatitis B treatments aim to product e-antibody in blood. Positive and reactive Anti-HBe often means negative HBeAG.

In few countries, few types of Hepatitis B virus do not produce e protein. This means that HBeAG and anti-HBe can be used to monitor treatment in these countries.

3- Hepatitis B DNA (HBV DNA) or HBV PCR Test

HBV DNA is advance test to detect the presence of Hepatitis virus.  It can be qualitative or quantitative test. Qualitative test just indicates whether the virus is present or not.  Quantitative test provides the viral load in per ML of blood sample. Quantitative test has also two variation. Traditional HBV DNA test results show copies/ml in blood sample. While other test which more advance and costly is known as Real Time HBV DNA test. The measure unit of this test if IU/ML where IU stands for international unit. HBV DNA test is also called HBV PCR test.

Viral load and HBeAG result both combined are key to decide when to start treatment and when to stop it.

Other hepatitis B test include HBcAG , Anti-HBc  ant Anti-HBc Igm. These deals with the third protein named core antigen and antibodies related to this.