This is a liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus: the bacterium can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, which varies depending on the severity and condition of the patient. Few people know which doctor treats hepatitis C and where to go with such a disease.
Infection methods
Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through the blood, the most common methods of infection:
- non-sterile injections (drugs, medicines);
- non-sterile medical care;
- through household appliances;
- blood transfusion;
- unprotected intercourse;
- transmission of infection during pregnancy from an infected mother to the fetus.
Symptoms
The incubation period of hepatitis C is from 2 weeks to 6 months. After the initial infection, 80% of people do not show any symptoms. If the disease still manifests itself, then the patients manifest symptoms in the form of:
- fever
- fatigue
- decreased appetite;
- nausea and vomiting
- pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
- dark urine
- joint pain
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin).
For further treatment, you need to know which doctor treats hepatitis C. There are three of them: hepatologist, infectious disease specialist and gastroenterologist.
Screening and Diagnostics
Due to the fact that the infection does not appear for a long time, it can be difficult to diagnose. Infection is diagnosed as follows:
- screening for antibodies with a serological test;
- general and biochemical blood analysis;
- analysis for the presence of antibodies and the absence of antibodies;
- Ultrasound of the liver and abdomen.
After the diagnosis, you need to get acquainted with the information about what methods and which doctor treats hepatitis C. We got acquainted with the names of specialists. Now it’s worth getting an appointment with who of them is in honey. institution.
Treatment
Due to the properties of the virus, against the background of the disease, not only the liver, but also other organs weakens. The immune system does not cope with its task, which leads to the vulnerability of the body to other diseases. Hepatitis C treatment is especially dependent on the human immune system. Gastroenterologists, hepatologists and infectious disease specialists are involved in the therapy. First of all, the doctor should, after the anamnesis, select an individual treatment that includes:
- drug therapy against the virus;
- drug treatment to restore the immune system;
- drug therapy, restoring the liver.
With prolonged and advanced stages of the disease, the gastrointestinal tract can be seriously affected, and a depressive state can also appear. For the treatment of such problems, the doctor prescribes additional treatment.
Diet for Hepatitis C
There are viral diseases that cause great harm to the body. So, hepatitis C leads to liver damage, if it is not detected in time, then the disease will quickly become chronic with the need for long-term treatment.
Along with drug therapy, it is very important to establish nutrition - this will help fill the body with minerals and vitamins, as well as improve the condition of the liver. The doctor who treats hepatitis C liver should prescribe the use of certain foods. Let us consider further the permitted ones.
Allowed Products
For patients with type C hepatitis, diet No. 5 is shown, suggesting the use of such products:
- fish and meat: turkey, beef, chicken, saffron cod, hake, cod, jellied tongue;
- dairy products: semolina, cheesecakes, lazy dumplings and souffle from cottage cheese;
- bread (not the freshest), crackers and biscuits;
- cooked sausage, milk sausages, sausages;
- first courses, possibly with pasta;
- cereals: millet, buckwheat, rice or oatmeal;
- greens and seasonings: cloves, bay leaf, lettuce, dill, parsley, cinnamon;
- sweets: jams, marshmallows, jam, a small amount of honey;
- butter or vegetable oil, 30 g each, without frying;
- fresh vegetables: celery, carrots, onions, beans, peas, cauliflower and zucchini, as well as vegetable side dishes;
- tea (preferably herbal), vegetable and fruit juices and fruit drinks.
All these products are approved for use by people who suffer from chronic hepatitis C. If the disease worsens or concomitant gastrointestinal pathologies appear, this diet needs to be adjusted. A side effect of such a nutrition system is the appearance of constipation, but this does not mean that you need to use laxatives - you can add more dried fruits to the menu.
Yes, you can get used to the above diet, especially if you realize that such a diet will stimulate the healing process from hepatitis C.
Medication for hepatitis C
There are diseases that people perceive as a sentence. Hepatitis C is an example of this since many claim it cannot be cured. But thanks to constantly evolving medicine, modern methods have been found that allow you to quickly cure this viral disease.
The danger of hepatitis C is that for a fairly long time it can occur without any alarming symptoms. Therefore, this type of hepatitis is also called a "gentle killer." It is very important to quickly detect the disease, use the right medications.
In the treatment of hepatitis C, the main thing is to completely remove the virus and neutralize its effect, for which medication or antiviral therapy is used. It consists of direct-acting agents that suppress viral proteins. The speed and characteristics of the course of the disease, the age and weight of the patient, the tolerance of drugs, the presence of complications and concomitant diseases will largely influence the selection of medicines.
Combined methods of treatment are most effective. The applied complex therapy stops the spread of the virus, slows down the progress of hepatitis C, while at the same time increasing its resistance to the effects of the dangerous virus. Among modern medicines, interferons are used to combat this insidious disease.
A significant drawback of interferons is the possible occurrence of side effects, in some cases with a pronounced severity: the patient with hepatitis C has headaches, apathy and decreased performance, as well as other symptoms that forced him to completely stop treatment. Drug therapy should be carried out according to the scheme chosen by the virologist. Typically, the duration of treatment is 3-6 months. The final term is set separately for each patient (depending on the indicators of the clinical picture).
After the first month of treatment with the prescribed drugs has passed, you must again consult a doctor who will draw intermediate conclusions on the appropriateness and correctness of the chosen treatment regimen. In case of ineffective therapy, the doctor will adjust the medication regimen.
After completing the course, a detailed blood test must be passed to the hepatitis C patient - this will eliminate the further development of the virus. If the virus is not detected in the blood, that is, the treatment was effective, the doctor will give the patient advice on further life and the prevention of hepatitis C again.
Alternative treatment for hepatitis C
Folk remedies to cure hepatitis C, of course, is impossible. But it is advisable to use them in conjunction with drug treatment. Using folk methods can really bring a positive result, but a sick person for this must make a positive lifestyle.
There are quite a few traditional medicine recipes that help alleviate the condition of the patient. So, it is recommended to use:
- beekeeping products;
- tinctures;
- infusions;
- teas
- juices.
Medicinal plants contribute to the restoration of damaged liver cells, help get rid of the inflammatory process and increase the protective functions of the body. Here are some examples of effective medicines:
- Calendula: a few tablespoons of dry raw material is poured into 500 ml of boiling water and filtered after an hour. The broth is taken 3-4 times a day for 125 ml.
- St. John's wort: a spoon of grass is steamed in 1 tbsp. boiling water. The broth is boiled for 15 minutes, filtered and taken in 1/4 tbsp. thrice a day.
- Lipa: the infusion is said as in the previous recipe, but is taken immediately.
- Wormwood: 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured into a glass of water and boiled over low heat for 5-7 minutes. The broth is filtered and consumed in a spoon 3 times a day. The remains of the infusion should be stored in a cold place.
Juices for hepatitis C
Juices help reduce the rate of development of the disease and restore the liver, as they contain many trace elements and vitamins to support the immune system. The most effective are the following juices:
- Pumpkin: 500 g of pulp can also be consumed.
- Onion: 1.5 kg of peeled onions need to be filled up with 3 tbsp. sugar and put in the oven until it is completely softened. The resulting liquid should be taken at 1 tbsp. l in the morning and in the evening. The course of admission is about 2 months.
- Carrot: 1 kg of carrots need to pour 0.5 liters of water and leave for 1-1.5 hours. The juice must be filtered, if desired, you can add cranberry or lemon juice. Take 1/4 tbsp. thrice a day.
- Beetroot: before use, this juice must be diluted with an equal amount of water, drink a glass a day.
Honey has a strong anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effect, protects the liver. To prepare the medicine, you need to mix a spoonful of honey with the same amount of lemon juice. The resulting slurry should be eaten, then lie down on the right side for 30 minutes. Also, honey can be mixed with pollen, taken in the morning.
There are many non-traditional recipes that help reduce the intensity of the symptoms of hepatitis C. But we hasten to remind you that it is impossible to completely replace the treatment with them, since successful medication is necessary for a successful recovery!