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What does it mean when Hep C is dormant?
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.
What is the difference between Hep C and chronic hep C?
If you have the hepatitis C virus in your blood for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, you have “acute” hep C. After 6 months, it’s called “chronic.” Without diagnosis and treatment, chronic hep C can remain for many years and lead to serious symptoms like liver damage.
Will you always test positive for hep C?
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.
Can you tell how long you have had Hep C?
If a person has contracted the hepatitis C virus, it takes a while for their body to produce enough antibodies so that a test can detect them. This time is known as the window period. The hepatitis C (HCV) window period is usually 4–10 weeks from the time of exposure.
Can your body cure hep C on its own?
Like the human papillomavirus (HPV), early acute hepatitis C can clear on its own without treatment; this happens about 25% 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.
Can you donate blood after being cured of Hep C?
Can I donate blood after I have been successfully cured of hepatitis C or have spontaneously cleared the virus after being infected at some point? No, you cannot donate blood if you ever had hepatitis C, even if you spontaneously cleared the virus or if you were successfully cured with medication.
What is the life expectancy of someone with hep C?
People with hepatitis C can live many years after diagnosis, but the range varies. A 2014 study showed that patients infected with hepatitis C virus died on average 15 years sooner than people who did not have the illness. With hepatitis C, the liver becomes seriously damaged due to inflammation.
What makes hep C worse?
Raw oysters or shellfish. They can have bacteria that give you serious infections that are more severe if you have hep C. Fatty, sugary foods. They can stress your liver or lead to fat deposits in it.
What does a negative hepatitis C antibody test mean?
or negative antibody test means that you are not currently infected with the Hepatitis C virus. • However, if you think you might have been exposed to Hepatitis C in the last 6 months, you will need to be tested again. What does a reactive Hepatitis C Antibody Test result mean? A reactive
What does active mean for Hep C patients?
Active: Active means your liver is infected and did not clear this dangerous virus on its own. You must work with your a Hep C specialist to be ready to take Read More Active&4MillionCount: Active means that disease is active.Active means that you are actively infected with HepatitisC,and inactive means that you ha (ve had HepC in past and…
What does the Nat mean for hepatitis C?
If the NAT for HCV RNA is: Negative – you were infected with hepatitis C virus, but the virus is no longer in your body because you were cured or cleared the virus naturally. Positive – you now have the virus in your blood.
What does a non-reactive HCV test result mean?
What does a non-reactive HCV antibody test result mean? ► A non-reactive or negative antibody test means that you are not currently infected with the hepatitis C virus. ► However, if you think you might have been exposed to hepatitis C in the last 6 months, you will need to be tested again.