Hepatitis C In Pregnancy
The hepatitis C in pregnancy is a public health problem, despite the complications occur in a small proportion of patients. It is a viral infection with wide distribution worldwide and its transmission is through the bloodstream, especially with the injection of illicit drugs.
Although there is no increased risk of complications during pregnancy, some pregnant women and babies may experience additional difficulties as a result of chronic infection. If you are interested in knowing a little more about the subject, we invite you to continue reading.
What is Hepatitis C?
As the name suggests, the hepatitis C is characterized condition by inflammation of the liver tissue which, in turn, is caused by hepatitis C. According to a publication of the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus it can cause an acute or chronic infection, although in most cases the affected people are asymptomatic.
The latter does not imply that the disease is mild in all cases. In fact, it is a major cause of liver cancer in those living with a chronic infection, a population estimated at 71 million people, according to the WHO.
Although the distribution of the virus and the disease is worldwide, it is more common in some regions of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in risk groups that tend to use illicit injection drugs.
How it is transmitted
Blood is the fluid through which disease is transmitted. According to a scientific review article published in the journal Offarm: pharmacy and society , the most frequent routes are the following:
- Transfusions
- Hemodialysis.
- Parenteral drug addiction.
- Organ transplantation.
- Occupational accidents in health personnel.
- Tattoos, acupuncture and piercing .
Another important route of transmission is the vertical one, that is, the one that occurs from mother to child during pregnancy.
According to a publication of the Argentine Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies, in the United States between 1 and 2.5% of pregnant women are infected. This considerably increases the risk of vertical transmission.
How do I know if I have hepatitis C?
From a clinical point of view, most patients are asymptomatic, especially in acute infections. When symptoms do occur, it is always after the virus’s incubation period, which can range from 2 weeks to 6 months. The most frequent are the following:
- Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Abdominal pain, especially in the upper and right part (right upper quadrant).
- Fever.
- Dark urine.
- Pale or clear stools
In case of presenting any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible so that the diagnosis of hepatitis C is made. In any case, in some countries it is advisable to carry out periodic tests, especially during prenatal check-ups.
These diagnostic studies include blood tests, which consist of serological tests that determine the amount of antibodies to the virus in the blood. In case these are elevated, there is a confirmatory test that determines the presence of the genetic material of the virus in the blood.
If the latter study is positive and doctors need to assess the severity of liver damage, they may order an MRI elastogram, a transient elastogram, or a liver biopsy. This is how the experts at the Mayo Clinic describe it in a publication.
Treatment of hepatitis C and pregnancy
Treatment during pregnancy varies depending on symptoms and the degree of liver impairment. According to a publication in the Journal of Gastroenterology of Peru , therapy in these cases has several objectives:
For this reason, the simple fact of avoiding any hepatotoxic medication can serve to prevent complications of the infection. Those women with cirrhosis of the liver (one of the consequences of chronic hepatitis) can experience quite a few difficulties requiring emergency treatment.
The latter include drugs to prevent clotting and even endoscopic or surgical interventions to treat varicose veins that can cause internal bleeding.
Hepatitis C and pregnancy: how it affects you and your baby
Many women can go through pregnancy without knowing they have hepatitis C. The risk of developing complications is low, but in certain predisposing people, chronic infection can evolve into cirrhosis of the liver and cancer, according to the aforementioned publications.
Although vertical transmission of the virus is a possibility, so far there is no evidence to suggest that elective caesarean sections or interruption of breastfeeding decrease the baby’s chance of infection.
A study entitled Transmission of the hepatitis C virus to the newborn describes that the highest chances of infection are during childbirth, with no significant differences between cesarean section and the natural route. Furthermore, coinfection with HIV appears to increase the risks of transmission.
Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus does not cause additional risks during pregnancy, according to a work published in Gastroenterology and Hepatology . If the mother is in stable clinical condition, the biggest problem that can happen is the infection of the baby through the aforementioned routes.
In this case, although the acute infection can generate alarm symptoms, it is the low possibility of a chronic infection that can have the greatest impact on the health of children. For this, regular medical evaluations are essential.
Medical control is essential
Although in the vast majority of cases hepatitis C does not cause significant health problems, it must be taken into account that it is a disease with the potential to develop complications.
For this reason, accessing local screening tests or going to the doctor in case of presenting any of the symptoms is important to obtain an early diagnosis and timely treatment.
