Kelli Martin, APRN, FNP-C
UT Health East Texas Physicians Gastroenterology Clinic
North Campus Tyler
Hepatitis is a general term used for diseases that cause inflammation of the liver tissue. There are several types of hepatitis. The most common in East Texas is Hepatitis C.
A person develops Hepatitis C when exposed to the hepatitis C virus, which causes swelling or inflammation of the liver. The virus is blood-borne, meaning transmission is through contact with blood containing the virus.
Most people who have Hepatitis C do not know it because they are asymptomatic or have no noticeable symptoms. However, some people do experience jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, fatigue, muscle aches and/or fever at some stage of their illness.
Good news is that hepatitis C is treatable and curable. Antiviral medications target the hepatitis C virus and keep it from replicating, eliminating it from the body. A normal treatment plan would involve taking an antiviral medicine orally, once a day for up to 12 weeks. Antiviral medicines have a near 100% success rate in treating hepatitis C.
Since those with Hepatitis C are often unaware they have it, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adults ages 18 to 79 years be screened for hepatitis C. Screening involves a simple blood test, which can be ordered by your primary care provider.
Left untreated, hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver or cirrhosis. This scarring makes the liver work harder. Extensive scarring can cause liver failure. Also, in some cases, people with hepatitis C have developed liver cancer.
The gastroenterology team at UT Health North Campus Tyler specializes in testing and treating patients for hepatitis C. If you have tested positive for hepatitis C, ask your doctor for a referral to our clinic.
For more information, visit the UT Health North Campus Tyler website, UTHealthNorth.com, and click the “Hepatitis C” box under the “Services” tab, or call 903-877-7162.