More and more people on the planet hear from doctors such a formidable diagnosis as hepatitis C. What is it? How to treat it and is it possible to prevent infection? Let's try to figure it out.
What is hepatitis C?
Inflammation of the liver caused by various causes (drugs, toxic substances, alcohol, bacteria, viruses) is called hepatitis. Different types of this disease (A, B, C) cause different types of viruses, they have differences in transmission routes, clinic and course.
Hepatitis C is considered the most formidable, because it can be asymptomatic for a long time, leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is for this reason that he is called the “affectionate killer”.
Hepatitis C is transmitted with the blood of a sick person, therefore, people who have received a blood transfusion, undergone an organ transplant, and medical personnel who are in contact with the infected are at risk. But most of the sick can be found among those who use drugs.
There is also the possibility of transmission of hepatitis C during intercourse, when using a toothbrush or razor of a sick person. Dental instruments, devices for tattooing and piercing can also cause infection if hygiene is not followed.
Hepatitis C virus mothers give birth to infected babies in about 4% of cases. The risk is increased if the woman is also HIV-infected.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a disease that may not appear for a long time. The first symptoms may appear after 2 weeks or 6 months from the moment of infection. Up to 70% of people do not experience any signs of illness for many years, although their liver undergoes significant changes.
In acute hepatitis C, symptoms such as fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, lightening feces and darkening of urine, as well as yellowness of the sclera and skin, may appear. The severity of each symptom can be different and does not depend on the number of viruses in the blood.
Chronic hepatitis C usually has an asymptomatic course, sometimes even enzyme indices remain normal, because a change in their level occurs in waves.
Diagnostics
Everyone should know what hepatitis C is, and all people at risk should be tested, these are drug addicts, people who have had a blood transfusion or organ transplant, medical workers, and people with HIV infection.
Women in early pregnancy also have to find out what hepatitis C is, because a screening test for antibodies to the virus is included in the list of mandatory tests.
In addition to determining antibodies (proteins that are produced by the body in response to the virus), a test is carried out to identify the virus in the body and biochemical blood parameters.
Treatment
Therapeutic measures in the acute period of the disease are aimed at preventing the development of a chronic process in the liver. This is achieved by taking the drug "Interferon alpha2".
The treatment of chronic hepatitis C is the possibility of a full recovery or the achievement of a long-term remission. However, in this case, a person needs to undergo a hepatitis C test every year, and he will never be able to be a donor (blood or organ).
In addition to interferon, in thearpia the drug Ribavarin is used. Individual treatment is prescribed for each patient, so patients should be under the supervision of a hepatologist or infectious disease specialist. It is impossible to take any funds on your own, especially dietary supplements. In addition, during treatment, alcohol and fatty, spicy, smoked foods are excluded.
It has been observed that in 15-25% of people, the hepatitis C virus “leaves” the body without treatment and does not lead to a chronic process. There is no explanation for this yet.
Prevention
To date, there is no vaccine against the causative agent of the disease, although they began to carefully study and find out what hepatitis C is in the early 90's.
In order to protect yourself, you must follow basic hygiene rules, avoid contact with other people's razors and toothbrushes, and when in contact with blood, use disposable gloves.