“Affectionate killer” - this is the name hepatitis C received from doctors. Mild symptoms and severe, almost fatal consequences make it possible to call such a complex disease such an ambiguous nickname.
How does this extremely dangerous virus work?
Hepatitis C is viral in nature. In appearance, the pathogen cell has a spherical shape with a shell and genetic information located inside. The genome consists of only 1 gene (RNA strand), which is encoded by 9 proteins. The simplicity of the structure contributes to the rapid penetration of the virus into the liver cells. The affected unit continues to function and does so, subject to the interests of the viral cell.
Hepatocyte synthesizes viral proteins and RNA. Newly formed particles pass to healthy areas, infecting them. Long-term activity of virus-bearing cells leads to the death of liver tissue or to their degeneration, transforming into malignant cancerous tumors.
One of the features of hepatitis C is the ability to form "quasivids" - modified particles. In the genome of the virus there are sites in which mutations often occur. As a result, it is difficult to diagnose hepatitis C. Symptoms and treatment are a rather difficult problem, because the former are not pronounced, and the latter is determined solely by an individual specialist. In this case, the liver is gradually destroyed, and viral cells continue to penetrate the tissues of other organs, causing concomitant diseases.
How is hepatitis C infected?
Once in the body of a woman, the group C hepatitis virus multiplies in the liver and circulates with blood throughout the body. But how does the causative agent enter the body? One way or another, all infection routes are connected with blood, therefore all cases are dangerous in which the blood of an infected person can connect with yours. The greatest number of cases of infection is associated with intravenous drug administration. Often, one contaminated syringe used by several people transmits the virus from one infected to another. According to statistics, 80% of drug addicts fall ill with chronic hepatitis C, and infection often occurs during the first injection.
Indiscriminate sexual intercourse is also a danger. With unprotected sexual contact, the probability of getting this disease (if your partner is a carrier of the virus) is 5-10%. However, symptoms of hepatitis C in women do not appear immediately. When a child is born from an infected mother, the probability of transmission of the disease to the fetus does not exceed 5%.
Until recently, a blood transfusion was dangerous due to the fact that it could have been infected with hepatitis C. Since 1999, donor material has been tested for antibodies to this disease. Currently, this pathway can be infected only in 4% of cases. Do not forget that danger can lie in wait in a number of absolutely harmless, at first glance, situations. For example, if you visit a hairdresser, receive regular dental treatment, or have surgery, there is a significant risk of infection.
In cases where the process is associated with a violation of the integrity of the skin or mucous membranes, take an interest in how the devices are processed. Being vigilant is also necessary when applying tattoos, piercings, performing manicures (pedicures). Infection can occur due to the use of non-disinfected instruments that can transmit infectious blood from previous visitors.
Since in 40 cases out of 100 it is not possible to establish a reliable cause of infection, it is recommended to avoid situations where your blood can connect to a particle of blood of an infected person.
Symptoms of hepatitis C in women
Now let's talk about how this disease manifests itself. If for some reason you have a question about what are the symptoms of hepatitis C, you should definitely consult a specialist. This disease is not characterized by specific manifestations. Hepatitis C is significantly different from other types of the virus.
Symptoms are extremely rare in the first weeks of the disease, and yellowness of the skin is a rather rare occurrence. Often the patient experiences weakness, quickly gets tired and feels a breakdown. These are the main symptoms of hepatitis C. In women, in 35-65% of cases, a depressive state is observed. Rarely, in the acute course of the disease, joint pain and digestive upset can occur, traditionally without a significant increase in temperature.
Similar symptoms of hepatitis C in women ambiguously indicate such a dangerous disease. In addition, quite often, patients do not turn in time for help, which leads to complication. Without proper attention, hepatitis B virus can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. With an asymptomatic course of the disease, a person can absolutely accidentally learn about the disease at an early stage. Often this happens when you need to donate blood for analysis, or you are a donor. With the neglected option, an increase in the volume of the abdomen is observed, spider veins, jaundice, unbearable weakness appear.
The first "swallows" of the disease
The first symptoms of hepatitis C in women can be confused with the flu. The onset of the disease is often not accompanied by intoxication and proceeds with virtually no visible manifestations during the first 2 weeks. Only in rare cases, itching of the skin, pain in the joints and muscles, dark urine, and lack of appetite are observed.
Common complaints that patients make are:
- lethargy, apathy and physical weakness;
- decreased mental activity;
- unpleasant pulling sensations in the right hypochondrium;
- a complete lack of desire to drink liquid or food;
- every meal causes discomfort.
Often, hepatitis C (symptoms and treatment, as we have already agreed, are determined very carefully and individually) is mild, but about 10% can be prone to fulminant (rapid) forms of the disease, which can lead to death. In 80-90% of cases, the disease becomes chronic.
To identify the disease, it is necessary to perform a number of laboratory tests, among which the following are mandatory:
- blood test for the content of ALaT, ASaT, bilirubin;
- determination in blood of anti-HCV (antibodies to hepatitis C virus);
- PCR-HCV blood test;
- Ultrasound and liver biopsy, which determines the severity of the disease;
- for patients with diabetes or hypertension, an examination of the fundus is necessary , in which retinopathy is detected.
In each case, the diagnosis of hepatitis C symptoms may vary. Therefore, the attending physician sometimes expands the list of research methods or reduces it, depending on the condition of the patient or the equipment of the laboratory.
Clinical manifestations of the disease
Once in the body through the skin or mucous membrane, microorganisms multiply and settle in the internal organs with a blood stream. They cause the most damage to liver cells. Introducing themselves into them, the virus “replaces” healthy cells with affected ones. In addition, pathogenic cells can embed their genetic code in human DNA, which allows them to hide for a long time and not fall under the influence of immune control. This factor is the main cause of the course of the disease in a chronic form. It also contributes to the development of virus-carrying in the patient, which, in turn, can lead to acute liver failure, the manifestation of cirrhosis and cancerous tumors.
If we consider the process at the cellular level, then the first symptoms of hepatitis C appear due to the destruction of the functionality of liver cells. When damage to the integrity of the inner shells, oxidation processes predominate. “Holes” are formed in the tissues, due to which enzymes and K ions are removed from the cell, and sodium and calcium ions enter inside. An imbalance leads to the fact that the liquid is not excreted and causes the cell to swell. Clinically, the picture is manifested by an increase in the organ, necrosis (areas of dead cells) are traced in the structure of the liver, bilirubin metabolism is disturbed, which is manifested by the development of jaundice.
Phases of infection
Specialists distinguish several phases of the course of the disease: acute, latent, reactivation and the healing process. However, one can distinguish an acute and chronic form, to which the last three phases belong. Consider in more detail the disease "hepatitis", symptoms in women, a photo of the affected organ.
Acute phase
If the patient is diagnosed with acute hepatitis C, the symptoms will be as follows:
- manifestation of acute hepatitis syndrome;
- increase in the amount of transamine;
- the appearance of anti-HCV IgM and anti-HCV IgG to protein molecules in the absence of anti-HCV IgG;
- detection of HCV RNA in the patient’s blood.
The acute phase lasts about 6 months.
Latent phase
This stage may occur before an exacerbation of hepatitis C occurs. Symptoms first appear after 6 months or earlier. Wherein:
- clinical manifestations are not observed;
- the level of transamine increases slightly;
- determined by anti-HCV IG in an amount of 1: 160 and above;
- not determined by anti-HCV IgM;
- HCV RNA in the blood can already be detected.
The duration of this phase is usually about 10 years.
Reactivation
The slowdown of the virus is accompanied by the following characteristics:
- residual indications of an acute phase;
- first signs of chronic hepatitis;
- an increase in transamine;
- detection of anti-HCV IgM, anti-HCV IgG, RNA in the blood;
This stage is determined over 5-10 years and passes into cirrhosis, can manifest itself as primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
Recovery
If the diagnosis of hepatitis C is defined, symptoms, treatment, consequences are also studied and explained to the patient, you can proceed to the stage of recovery. At this stage, there are criteria for determining the condition of a person. These are:
- lack of clinical indicators;
- an acceptable level of transamine;
- detection of anti-HCV IgG and anti-HCV IgG in low titers and their gradual disappearance;
- lack of anti-HCV IgM and HCV RNA in the blood.
Traditional treatment for hepatitis C
With a diagnosis of hepatitis C, an infectious disease doctor prescribes treatment. Often the main activities of a specialist are:
- removal of inflammation in the tissues of the liver;
- prevention of cirrhosis;
- decrease in the concentration of viral cells and their complete destruction.
The patient is treated with medicines - both expensive European drugs and more affordable domestic counterparts. It should be noted that along with therapy, it is necessary to adhere to a diet and completely eliminate the use of alcohol and tobacco products. Significant physical exertion will also be superfluous. The patient should be at rest.
Traditional medicine in the fight against hepatitis C
Many risk and resort to traditional medicine. With hepatitis C, women are recommended to take such drugs:
- regularly (every 3 hours) drink 2 tablespoons of infusion from columns of corn stigmas, and once a day - a couple of spoons of fresh horseradish;
- every day, drink on an empty stomach a glass of sage broth (you can with a spoon of honey); two glasses of decoction of buds or birch leaves (adding a pinch of drinking soda); can be alternated with 2 glasses of broth from sage, wormwood and juniper berries;
- it is recommended to prepare a decoction of St. John's wort, immortelle flowers and buckthorn bark and drink several glasses daily;
- drink peppermint tea or just a decoction as often as possible.
- Favorably acting pickled sauerkraut (it is necessary to drink several sips per day), garlic and lemon juice (no more than 6 tbsp.spoons per day), potato juice (1.5 tbsp per day), carrot, beetroot juice in a ratio of 1: 1 (2-3 cups per day), St. John's wort broth (2 tbsp.spoons once a day), dandelion juice (diluted 1:10 in water).
For the quickest cleansing of the body, herbalists recommend every 3 days to make enemas with a saturated decoction of pharmacy chamomile.
What are the ways to prevent hepatitis C?
To date, scientists have not found an effective vaccine for hepatitis C, so the methods of prevention relate exclusively to minimizing the risks associated with the possible penetration of the virus through the blood. In other words, you should reduce communication with people who are at risk: drug addicts, homosexuals. Caution should also be taken in contact with persons who have undergone surgical treatment or blood transfusion. Particular attention should be paid to tools that are intended for reusable public use (dental, manicure, hairdressing supplies).
In the event that your family has a patient, special measures must also be taken. It is necessary to highlight certain essential necessities (cutlery, toothbrush, machine tools, etc., which can get blood). If the skin is damaged, the wound should be treated. To process all the places on which the blood of a sick person accidentally fell. The patient and all family members should be examined regularly to prevent the development of the disease. Mandatory for prevention is vaccination against hepatitis A and B, since infection with several viruses is treated much more difficult.
If we talk about the national level, then the reduction and control of hepatitis contributes to:
- raising the standard of living and culture of the population;
- the exclusion of systemic negligence in the field of healthcare, the introduction of a system of personal responsibility for erroneous medical actions;
- introduction of insurance medicine.