The world has a huge number of serious and complex diseases. And practically everyone can become infected with them. In this article I want to talk about what are the ways of transmission of hepatitis C.
About the disease
At the very beginning, it is worth saying that hepatitis is a viral infection. It can be different, but hepatitis C is its most serious and terrible form. What else do you need to know about this disease?
- The main routes of transmission of hepatitis C are through the blood. However, small amounts of viral agents can also be found in saliva, human lymph, in the seminal fluid of men and in the menstrual blood of women.
- Viability of the virus is from 12 to 96 hours.
- Donated blood must be checked for the presence of this virus. After all, before it was one of the main ways of infection.
- The probability of infection depends on the person’s immunity, as well as on the degree of viral damage.
- Statistics show that approximately 170 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis C. In addition, the number of patients increases by approximately 4 million annually. However, the spread of the disease is not the same in all countries.
About the pathogen
To date, the causative agent of hepatitis C is 100% unknown. Indeed, there are certain difficulties: the impossibility of accumulating a sufficient number of viral agents for research, the lack of adequate living models. However, some information is still there.
- The virus belongs to flaviviruses.
- It is a weak antigen and persistent pathogen.
- The virus is genetically heterogeneous. The composition has a significant number of gene and phenotypes.
- The causative agent of hepatitis, more precisely its genotype, scientists are divided into three main groups: "Asian", "American" and "Japanese", depending on the confinement to a particular territory.
Main ways
So, you definitely need to consider the main routes of transmission of hepatitis C.
- Blood donation. There were more problems with this before. However, in our country since 1992, all donated blood is checked for the presence of this virus. The likelihood of infection may increase with repeated blood transfusions.
- Using a single needle. Today, this is the most important way to get hepatitis C. This occurs among drug addicts, as well as people with low incomes. It is worth mentioning that in the countries of the so-called “third world” infection with this virus occurs much more often. The reason for this is the lack of medical facilities and the urgent need to reuse the same injection needle.
- The virus is also transmitted sexually.
- The virus can be transmitted from mother to child.
- Often infected during tattooing, piercing the ears or other parts of the body. In this case, the use of non-sterile needles becomes the cause.
However, it must be said that in about 40% of cases, the transmission of hepatitis C remains unknown.
Other situations
How are they infected with hepatitis C? This can happen to almost anyone and anywhere.
- In places of imprisonment.
- High risk of infection among health workers. After all, it is not uncommon that doctors simply do not have time to put on gloves, when even a split second can cost a person life.
- You can get infected by using other people's hygiene products - toothbrushes, razors, manicure tools.
- All places where sanitary standards may be violated. These are manicure rooms, hairdressers, tattoo parlors, etc.
- You can get infected in any public place, accidentally pricking on an infected needle (often sick teenagers scatter them as revenge for the fact that they are infected).
Sexual transmission
As mentioned above, sexual transmission of hepatitis C is possible. However, this percentage is quite low (no more than 3-5%). It is worth saying that by external signs it is impossible to determine whether a person is sick or not. There is a chance of infection only if sexual intercourse was unprotected. Otherwise, the risk of infection is reduced to zero. When is the degree of infection during intercourse high?
- In hard sex, when there is damage to the mucous membranes.
- During an intimate relationship with a woman who has menstruation.
- During unprotected anal sex.
Regarding oral sex, doctors do not have a consensus. Those. it is not yet known exactly whether hepatitis C can be infected in a similar way.
Kisses
Many people may be interested in information about whether hepatitis C is transmitted through kisses or saliva. The risk of infection in this case is very small. Indeed, in saliva contains a very small percentage of viral agents. However, it is easy to get infected from a person who is already seriously ill.
Airborne path
We further consider viral hepatitis C, the transmission routes of this disease. It is worth saying that it is impossible to get this disease by airborne droplets. Infection will not occur during a conversation, or even during a cough or sneezing of an infected person. Quietly, you can also shake hands with such people and cuddle. Doctors say that consuming common foods and drinks is also not a way of infection. Hepatitis C can also not be carried by insects.
If the infection did happen ...
Having figured out how hepatitis C is infected, it is worthwhile to talk about what paths of events are possible if a virus infection has already occurred.
- If the immune system of the infected person is strong, it can fully recover. This occurs in approximately 20% of cases.
- In most cases, after infection, a person acquires a chronic form of hepatitis C. In this case, you must constantly undergo a medical examination, since the virus can be activated at any time in the host body.
- You can become infected with the virus and remain its carrier without knowing it at all. It reproduces very slowly, neither liver tests, nor biopsy in some cases can “say” that a person is infected.
Re-infection
If a person has previously had hepatitis C, but has recovered, the risk of infection still remains. After all, the body does not produce immunity to this virus. Moreover, it is worth saying that there are several types of virus, thanks to which the so-called “fresh” infection is possible.
If the family has a patient
If there is a person in the family who is sick with hepatitis C, then the remaining members need to be extremely cautious. After all, as was said above, the virus can live in the external environment for up to 96 hours. In this case, the following activities will be important:
- Clothes, the patient’s bed should be washed with whiteness. It is worth remembering that the virus dies at a temperature of 60 ° C in 30 minutes, when boiled - in 2-3.
- All household items should be strictly individual.
- In case of injuries, the affected areas must be bandaged or glued with a band-aid. If you need to help the patient, you need to wear gloves.
Risk groups
Who and when can a hepatitis C carrier infect with the virus? High risk have:
- health workers who work with infected people daily;
- people who received blood transfusions before 1987;
- people who underwent surgery before 1992;
- HIV infected
Medium risk:
- people with a variety of liver diseases;
- patients who are on hemodialysis;
- babies born to infected mothers.
Weak risk group:
- all health workers;
- SES workers, i.e. Sanitary and epidemiological services;
- people who are too sexually active and do not use a condom during intercourse;
- people who have one but infected partner.
Diagnostics
How can a hepatitis C carrier be detected ? After all, as already mentioned above, very often a person has absolutely no external signs and reasons to contact a doctor. So, the virus can be determined during the next medical examination or a planned physical examination. To do this, you will need:
- Blood analysis.
- Ultrasound Examination of the abdominal cavity.
- Liver biopsy.
Seek first aid from an infectious disease specialist. If the patient has chronic hepatitis C, a gastroenterologist or hepatologist is involved in the management of the patient.
What do positive research findings mean?
Positive test results may indicate the following:
- The patient suffers from a chronic form of hepatitis.
- The infection has been transmitted in the past. At the moment, the person is healthy, however, he had previously dealt with the virus.
- The result may be false positive. In this case, additional research will be needed.
A few words about the treatment
It is worth saying that the most dangerous is chronic hepatitis C. After all, it can eventually develop into cirrhosis or even liver cancer. The following information will also be important: a vaccine that could protect against hepatitis C virus infection simply does not exist. What are the main goals that the treatment of the patient will pursue?
- Reduction or complete elimination of inflammatory processes in the liver. This is necessary in order to prevent the appearance of cirrhosis.
- Reduction or complete elimination of the virus from the patient’s body.
It is worth saying that modern specialists in domestic medicine agreed that the most effective drug in working with infected viral hepatitis C is the drug "Interferon-Alpha." Its main task is to prevent subsequent infection of liver cells.