Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can lead to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer, if left untreated. Each person experiences the condition differently as it progresses. Some people may live with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) without knowing they have it. It may damage the liver and cause serious complications. This article discusses how hepatitis C affects the life expectancy of people who have hepatitis C in the later stages.
How long does a hepatitis C patient survive?
Although the range varies, people with hepatitis C can live for many years post diagnosis. Living in the same home as someone who has hepatitis C is generally seen as safe, despite the possibility of hepatitis C spreading from person to person. It may be transmitted by sharing needles and other injection equipment as well as personal objects (like toothbrushes or razors) that come into contact with the blood of a person with the virus. Transmission of hepatitis C during sexual intercourse via blood transfusions, tattoos, and body piercing is possible but highly uncommon.
Acute hepatitis C may resolve on its own without treatment, while chronic cases have different outcomes depending on the degree of liver damage. Cirrhosis and liver cancer are possible complications that may have a life expectancy of 2–12 years. Numerous factors may affect the prognosis and life expectancy of chronic hepatitis C. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have a 5-year survival rate if the complications are not properly managed and a liver transplant is not performed.
Can you die from hepatitis C?
No, HCV is rarely fatal in itself. The outlook and life expectancy of people with chronic hepatitis C depend on the existence and severity of complications. It also depends on how well a person responds to early treatment. Chronic hepatitis C usually has no symptoms. It’s possible that people who have chronic hepatitis C are unaware that they have it. However, the onset of symptoms could indicate the development of problems. Complications of untreated hepatitis C include cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer. There is a 5-year survival rate for liver cancer, while the life expectancy of someone with early-stage cirrhosis is about 9–12 years. Chronic hepatitis C cases have varying prognoses depending on the degree of liver damage, treatment response, viral genotype, and other individual characteristics.
How can untreated hepatitis C affect life expectancy?
When you have hepatitis C, it’s possible to go for years without being aware of the infection. After you’re infected, chronic hepatitis C may silently hurt your body. It can take years or even decades to feel symptoms. By the time you do, your body has most likely suffered numerous effects from the virus. With hepatitis C, the liver becomes seriously damaged due to inflammation. This may result in the serious liver-scarring condition known as cirrhosis. Liver cancer and liver failure are further consequences that may reduce life expectancy compared to normal, healthy people.
If the infection is left untreated or if the patient already has advanced liver disease (such as cirrhosis) by the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may be less favorable. However, even in advanced stages, treatment can help slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life. Even before the virus causes symptoms, hepatitis C treatments may eradicate it. That can help you reverse or prevent complications and keep you from spreading the virus to other people.
What should I know about the late-stage hepatitis C life expectancy?
Hepatitis C occurs when the hepatitis C virus, also known as HCV, infects the cells in the liver. Contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person can result in the transmission of HCV. Over time, a hepatitis C infection can cause liver damage, such as cirrhosis or fibrosis. Advanced liver disease can occur in late-stage hepatitis C.
The last stage of all chronic liver diseases is cirrhosis. Its natural history is characterised by an asymptomatic phase, termed compensated cirrhosis, followed by a rapidly progressive phase marked by the development of complications of portal hypertension and/or liver dysfunction, termed decompensated cirrhosis, characterised by extensive hepatic fibrosis, alteration of liver structure, disrupted hepatic circulation, and liver nodularity. Those with compensated cirrhosis have a 9–12-year median survival rate.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Avoiding practices that can transmit the disease, particularly drug injection, is the best way to prevent hepatitis C. Having a hepatitis C test is crucial since most patients can recover from the disease in eight to twelve weeks with therapy. It’s important for individuals with hepatitis C to work closely with their healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for their specific situation and to receive appropriate medical care and monitoring.
Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.
