Hepatitis C can be of several types. First of all, this is a viral disease, the causative agent of which penetrates the tissues of the human liver and leads to destructive processes. Due to the fact that the virus has the ability to mutate, experts identify several of its genotypes. All of them have their own distinctive features, so the diagnosis of the type of hepatitis will help to identify all the features of the disease and prescribe an effective and high-quality treatment to the patient. Hepatitis 3 genotype - what does it mean?
The difference between genotype 3 and other forms
It is very important to determine the type of pathogen of viral hepatitis. In total, experts identify 6 types of pathogen genes that are detected worldwide, or only in individual countries. Also, the type of virus will to some extent affect a person of a particular age and in its own way affect the condition of the liver.
The treatment of hepatitis C 3 genotype should be prescribed only by the attending physician, since self-medication in this case is very dangerous.
The third genotype of hepatitis is divided into categories A and B. There are several features of this type of genotype that help specialists get all the information about the disease and its course:
- at risk, young people under 30 years old (men and women equally), according to experts, this is due to sexual licentiousness and neglect of contraceptives;
- hepatitis 3 virus genotype is a dangerous disease, as many patients have complications in the form of cirrhosis and fibrosis;
- the main symptom of the disease is fatty degeneration of the liver, due to which the organ cannot function normally and is destroyed over time;
- viral hepatitis of genotype 3a can lead to the appearance of a tumor and its active growth;
- hepatitis C genotype 3a most often occurs against the background of other diseases of the blood system and provokes the formation of blood clots.
Possible complications
According to statistics, in 30% of patients with hepatitis C, it was identified the third genotype of the disease. Hepatitis C 3a is more common in people than 3b. This type of disease is quite difficult to cure, since it is characterized by rapid development and dangerous complications.
If a person with genotype 3 is diagnosed with fibrosis in an advanced case, then the risk is high that he will soon begin cirrhosis of the liver. In 10 percent of all patients, doctors determine a mixed form of infection (genotypes 1, 3), which makes treatment only more difficult and longer.
Genotype 3
During treatment, specialists regularly conduct a stable virological response - checking for the absence of virus RNA in the patient’s blood for a period of no less than six months from the end of taking antiviral drugs. The test is carried out in the treatment of 3 genotypes of hepatitis C drugs to adjust their composition, dosage and frequency of administration.
What does genotype 3 mean for hepatitis C? Genotype 3 is the most common type of hepatitis. It is distinguished by its acute course and an increased risk of complications, for example, cirrhosis of the liver. Many patients are completely cured of the disease and eliminate the virus from their body, normalize their condition and continue to live a normal life. The treatment regimen is selected, taking into account the degree of hepatitis C 3 genotype. However, in any case, patients need to give up alcohol and eat right.
The causative agent of the disease and its spread
As with other infectious lesions, hepatitis C 3 genotype provokes a virus that has RNA. It penetrates the human blood and accumulates in large quantities in the liver, where it begins its destructive work in relation to cells and tissues, and leads to the appearance of many symptoms. The disease can be transmitted through blood from an infected person. There are several main ways of transmitting an infectious agent:
- during blood transfusion and during its purification by hemodialysis;
- when using infected medical and other devices, including syringes and devices for manicure and tattoos;
- the infection can also be sexually transmitted;
- when carrying a child and during childbirth from a woman to a newborn.
Hepatitis of the type in question is a chronic disease, the first clinical symptoms of which appear in an infected person at the end of the incubation period. Nevertheless, the patient becomes a spread of the infection when the virus enters his body before the first signs of the disease appear. That is why blood and organ donors are required to undergo a comprehensive health check, the same tests are prescribed to a woman when carrying a child.
Incubation period
The incubation period for each person is individual, it can vary from 6 months to several years. The time of the incubation period will directly depend on the patient’s immunity and the presence of other diseases in the chronic stage. According to statistics, people with drug addiction who inject drugs intravenously are most often affected. Their immune system is greatly weakened, so the disease progresses in a short time and quickly reaches a critical point.
Immunity in this case simply can not normally resist an infectious disease. If the infection occurred in a person who leads a healthy lifestyle, then viral hepatitis may not report itself for many years and be diagnosed by accident, only during an unscheduled health check.
The main symptoms of the disease
Experts note that there are no nerve endings in the liver, therefore, with its diseases, the patient's condition remains normal for a long time. The disease manifests itself only in the last stages of development. In 83% of cases, this disease is fatal. If it is not possible to seek help from a qualified hepatologist, it is best to follow the general recommendations of the therapist regarding the prevention, treatment, restoration and cleaning of the liver.
Other symptoms
The following symptoms are characteristic of all types of hepatitis of viral origin:
- severe pain in the right hypochondrium;
- enlarged liver, due to which it protrudes beyond the edges of the costal arch;
- the skin and mucous membranes change their color, become yellowish;
- the patient has unpleasant pain in the joints and muscles;
- feces change their color to light, urine, on the contrary, acquires a dark color;
- the patient’s body temperature rises significantly, during an exacerbation of the disease, fever attacks begin.
Reviews about the treatment of hepatitis C 3 genotype and its complete elimination are mixed. If the disease can be detected in the early stages of development, when the liver tissue is not yet severely damaged and continues to perform its basic functions, the disease can be cured and the patient's state of health restored.
The most dangerous complication of hepatitis is cirrhosis, but a lot of time must pass for its development. In this case, the patient is treated to improve his condition, eliminate the main unpleasant symptoms and prolong life. In the best case, a patient with this diagnosis will live another 15-20 years, but this is only subject to the complete elimination of the virus from the body and following all the recommendations of the treating specialist.
Diagnostic measures
Timely detection of the disease is the key to effective and proper treatment. It is very important to seek help from a doctor when the first signs of an ailment appear. First, the doctor prescribes a patient examination - ultrasound. It will help to identify how the disease is started, as well as the risk of cirrhosis. But the doctor will not be able to make an accurate diagnosis using one ultrasound. A comprehensive examination will be required to determine the root cause.
The patient needs to donate blood for biochemical analysis. With hepatitis in a patient, an increased number of white blood cells will be diagnosed in the blood, which indicates the onset of the inflammatory process in the body. Also, with the disease, the activity of specific hepatic enzymes and bilirubin fractions is increased.
Informative methods
The most informative methods for diagnosing hepatitis virus forms include tests with blood serum or serological reactions. In a liquid, the causative agent of the disease can be identified and identified, as well as its concentration in the blood. Experts have developed two main methods of examination, which are used to make an accurate diagnosis:
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) - a test in which the reaction of the patient's blood antibodies to viral antigens is examined;
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) - the detection of virus RNA, this diagnostic method will help to identify the exact concentration of the pathogen.
When determining the genotype of a virus by PCR on a specialized medical device, human blood serum is carefully processed to separate viral RNA. This method of examination is quite expensive, but it is highly informative and accurate. It is prescribed to all patients with suspected viral hepatitis.
Features of the treatment of the disease
What is the best way to treat hepatitis C 3 genotype? Hepatitis C treatment requires a lot of time and effort. Despite the fact that many experts consider the disease to be incurable, the patient's condition can be improved and restored, after which he can continue to live a full life. Some patients completely eliminate the virus from their body.
The treatment of hepatitis C 3 genotype is based on the use of specialized antiviral drugs in conjunction with other medications. In chemical structure, they are very similar to blood immunoglobulins (the body's own proteins, which in the normal state are produced by the human immune system to fight the virus). The duration of medication can be quite long, sometimes therapy lasts several years, and with advanced forms - throughout life.
Medication
The set of prescribed drugs depends on the degree of hepatitis C 3 genotype. Medicines most commonly used in therapy:
- Sofosbuvir with Ribavirin;
- Sofosbuvir, Ribavirin, as well as Peginferon;
- Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir.
All of these drugs have a similar mechanism of action. All of them help to develop their own antibodies that help suppress the development of the virus and smooth out signs of its presence in the body. The last combination of drugs for hepatitis C 3 genotype is used for a complicated form of the disease, including cirrhosis.
Additionally, the patient is prescribed symptomatic treatment of the disease. To protect liver cells from the effects of the virus and accelerate the synthesis of new ones, doctors prescribe patients hepatoprotectors, that is, drugs that stimulate the regeneration of hepatocytes (liver cells) and prevent the destruction of cell membranes. In addition, it is important to abandon all bad habits, normalize the diet.
Diet for the disease
You should also draw up the correct diet for hepatitis C 3 genotypes, from the menu it is necessary to exclude fatty, fried, junk foods, confectionery and flour products, smoked, canned foods, dyes, as well as flavorings. Since the liver is very important for the full synthesis of proteins, more protein products should be added to the daily diet: boiled meat or fish. Fruits and vegetables are also beneficial for the body, which contain a large number of vitamins and minerals that positively affect the regenerative processes in the liver.
Unfortunately, the cost of treatment for hepatitis C 3 genotype is quite high, and government support programs do not provide patients with the necessary medicines.