New Treatment Option Cures Hepatitis C

As heroin use continues to rise, infection control experts warn of another hidden health concern: hepatitis C. 

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling of the liver, and is a dangerous secondary epidemic of heroin use, but with early detection, a new treatment can cure the disease.

“The majority of the patients think that hepatitis C is not curable, and it is a curable disease with a 90 to 95 percent success with the new treatment,” Raja Chadalavada MD, a liver specialist with the TriHealth Digestive Institute, says.

Hepatitis C: What Symptoms Should I Look For?

Richard Davis tells Local 12's Liz Bonis that he was diagnosed with hepatitis C, and as the virus began to shut down his liver, and he described his symptoms as blood red swollen ankles and legs. Today, the virus is undetectable in his blood, and he's all but cured of the disease.

Additional hepatitis C symptoms include:

• Pain in the right upper abdomen
• Abdominal swelling due to fluid (ascites)
• Clay-colored or pale stools
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Itching
• Jaundice
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting

New Treatment Option Offers a Cure

Dr. Chadalavada explains that the new treatment option, HARVONI, is a pill taken daily for 8 to 12 weeks, and attacks the virus directly.

“If they are negative at three months after treatment, it will not come back,” Dr. Chadalavada says.

Individuals with hepatitis C often don’t have noticeable symptoms until the virus has reached an advanced stage. Dr. Chadalavada explains that it can take between 20 to 30 years from the time of infection before you notice symptoms. Doctors can test you for the virus while you’re in their office. 

Populations that should be tested include:

• IV drug users
• Baby boomers or those born between 1945 and 1965
• Individuals who may have had blood transfusions before the blood supply was screened for hepatitis C

A simple blood test is all that is needed. It allows your doctor to measure viral load and other factors that can determine how many weeks people will need to take the drug to cure the virus.

“I wish we could change our mentality from how did you get this, to how are we going to cure this, because it really doesn't matter how you got it. If you are walking around with it, and you know you have it, or you have an inclination that you could have it, get tested because this can kill you,” Richard says.