Author: Gandhi Medicos

The Various Stages of Hepatitis C 

The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the main cause of Hepatitis C, which when undetected can lead to lung cancer. Hepatitis C has various stages with different treatments for each. The first stage is Acute Hep C, it is an acute phase of 6 months during which our immune system fights with HCV, as a result, HCV may or may not be retained in our system. After our immune system fails Acute Hep C changes into Chronic Hep C where the liver cells die and inflammation of liver starts. About 20% of patients develop cirrhosis where the liver loses the ability to function, and this can result in lung cancer. The end-stage occurs when the liver is severely damaged and can no longer function properly.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C 

All the stages have different symptoms, which are given below

• Fatigue
• Jaundice
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal swelling
• Upset stomach
• Joint and muscle pain
• Dark and yellow urine
• Bleeding and bruising easily

Treatment and Side Effects

The Acute Hepatitis C is not medicated as the immune systems try to fight back and about 20-30% people save themselves from Chronic Hep C. WHO recommends therapy with Direct Acting Antivirals (DAA) which can cure people in just 12-24 weeks, although treatment for every person is different and the treatment is changing quickly. Some of the pills are Daclatasvir (Daklinza), Elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier), Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni), Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir (Mavyret), and Ombitasvir, paritaprevir, dasabuvir (Viekira Pak). However, these medications have some side effects:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Memory problems
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Arthritis
• Depression
• Low blood cells count

Hepatitis C can be stopped if we have a strong immune system that can win against this deadly virus. The symptoms are not visible at the early times, so it’s best to keep a close tab and eat healthily to build strong immunity.

Introduction

Hepatitis C is a disease that affects the liver badly and if ignored can even lead to liver failure. Its main cause is the hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are many ways through which one can catch hold of this Virus. It is mostly caused due to exposure to blood, which means that one can catch this virus if he or she is exposed to the blood of a carrier of HCV, e.g., usage of the same syringes, same shaving blade, getting tattoos by unhygienic equipment, and many more.  

The History of Hepatitis C 

During the 1960s only two kinds of Hepatitis were known, A and B. The existence of HCV came to be noticed in the year 1975 by Feinstone et al. who found some cases which didn’t come under the first two Hepatitis. It was observed that unlike A and B, Hepatitis is C transmitted through very small agents, and finally, in 1989, a man named Houghten and his colleagues successfully cloned the genome of HCV and developed diagnostic tests. It was found out that Hepatitis C resulted in Acute and Chronic Hepatitis or Liver Cancer.

The Geographical Distribution 

Hepatitis C is globally prevalent and is a leading cause of death. In 2016, approx. 3,99,000 died and WHO estimated that 71 million people have this virus. According to WHO the most affected regions are Eastern Mediterranean Region and European Region. There is no county free of HCV and work is still going on to find a cure for this deadly disease. Brazil, Egypt, Australia, and Georgia have been highlighted in many summits for their innovative work in the elimination of HCV and it is worth the appreciation, because soon some countries may get free of HCV and save millions of lives. 

As you all know that Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease. It easily gets transmitted through blood to blood contact.

Who can get affected with Hepatitis C?

1. If your blood comes in contact with the affected person’s blood may be in the hospital or while blood transfusion or organ transplant.
2. Being injected with drugs
3. The child of the pregnant affected women also gets Hepatitis C
4. If you get tattooed in an unhygienic place
5. If you have undergone hemodialysis
6. Having sex with many partners or if you have an STD

Prevention of Hepatitis C

As of now, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. However, efforts are made to find a vaccine for Hepatitis C.

Since Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-contact, unaffected people should make sure of their safety and keep in mind the following:

1. Avoid having sex with multiple partners
2. If one is affected by an STD, he or she should go and take a proper treatment first.
3. Avoid usage of an unsterile needle for the intake of drugs. Make sure that you don’t share the needles with anyone.
4. Healthcare professionals need to be careful while dealing with needles. They should take proper precautions.
5. While getting a tattoo, do not make use of unsterile needles and see to it that the environment around you is clean.

Facts about Hepatitis C

1. The CDC calls Hepatitis C as a silent epidemic.
2. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C
3. Even if the liver transplant is made, the patient cannot be sure to be cured of hepatitis C. He is further given medication.
4. Nearly 20-25% of the affected people with acute Hepatitis C get cured without any treatment.
5. Many liver transplants happen due to Hepatitis C
6. A person affected with Hepatitis C doesn’t need to also have HIV.

If you ever find out that you are affected with hepatitis C, then approach the doctor. All must take these precautions in their day to day life to prevent this disease.

I hope, this article helped create awareness on the prevention of hepatitis C.

Source links,

Source: https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/hepatitis-c/diagnosing-hepatitis-c/#how-can-i-prevent-getting-hepatitis-c

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278

Hepatitis C is a disease in which the liver is infected due to HCV (Hepatitis C Virus). It is transmitted to a person if the affected person’s blood comes in contact with the blood of an unaffected person.

It’s a chronic disease wherein the liver of the affected person is damaged. Liver damage involves the failure of the liver, liver cancer, and cirrhosis. If this is diagnosed earlier the liver infection can be prevented. Otherwise, it can lead to death.

Hepatitis C is caused when the HCV virus attacks the liver cell and causes dysfunction and swelling of the liver. In the long run, the liver gets completely damaged.

Signs and symptoms

There are two stages, first is the acute stage, where there may not be any symptoms and second is the chronic stage where the health is in severe condition.

It’s hard to find out hepatitis C in an acute stage as there are no sure symptoms. Hence, most of the time patients don’t get a proper diagnosis at the initial stage.

Here, are the symptoms of Hepatitis C:

1. Fever
2. Sensation of vomiting
3. Tiredness
4. Dark urine
5. Loss of appetite
6. Abdominal pain
7. Pale stools
8. Pain in the joints
9. Liver failure
10. Liver cancer

Treatments

1. Treating with antiviral medicines

One of the treatments involves antiviral medication mainly provided to remove viruses from the patient’s body. There should be no HCV, at least for 12 weeks after the treatment.

The recent development in this medication has resulted in reduced side-effects. Also, reduction in the treatment times.

2. Liver transplantation

If Hepatitis C has reached the chronic stage, where the liver is damaged, the only left option is liver transplantation. After this the patient is given antiviral medication, to make sure the virus is completely reduced.

3. Vaccines

There is no particular vaccine to treat hepatitis C. But, you would be advised to take vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses. These viruses are also known to cause liver inflammation and worsen the condition of the hepatitis C patient.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that is induced by the HCV or the Hepatitis C virus and this disease mainly affects the liver. The virus spreads through body fluids or physical contact. Many of those affected, don’t even know about it due to a lack of symptoms.

THE CAUSE:

Hepatitis C is mainly spread through contact. You can get exposed to the virus through:

* Multiple usages of injection needles in different people.

* Having sexual intercourse without the usage of proper protection.

* A mother while giving birth may pass it onto a child.

* Unsanitized body piercing equipment might transfer the virus.

Though kissing, hugging, breastfeeding, and other such activities are not the cause of spreading the virus.

THE EFFECT:

* During the early stages, no symptoms occur, but, as time goes by, the situation worsens and eventually leads to cirrhosis.

* The kidneys of the person suffering from Hepatitis C might fail.

* A patient of this disease might bleed easily.

* There are also cases of intense itching in the patients with Hepatitis C.

* The veins on the skin become spider-like if one is contacted with this disease.

* A patient can also experience blood loss through vomiting due to internal bleeding in the lower esophagus.

* Patients could also experience problems like memory glitches and lapses and may have reduced brain functioning.

* One might also suffer from building up of fluids in the abdominal cavity called ascites or in the legs, termed as edema.

Take care of your hygiene and turn to a healthy and clean way of living. This would save you from many of the infectious diseases like Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C can be cured in the initial stages, but, for people with people acute Hepatitis C, there’s no cure or treatment yet that have been discovered.

Chemicals such as interferon, peginterferon, and ribavirin used to be the main relief from the ailment. But, their drawback was that they had varied side-effects like fatigue, skin rashes, a certain amount of anxiety, causing depression, nausea, anemia, diarrhea, and also these medicines gave rise to flu-like symptoms.

Now, new cures for Hepatitis C have been found and developed in the present years. New medicines are available now which are considered more beneficial and have lesser side-effects. Some of these medicines along with their dosage period include:

* Daclatasvir (Daklinza): 12 weeks.

* Sofosbuvir – velpatasvir (Epclusa): 12 weeks.

* Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni): 8-12 weeks.

* Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir (Mavyret): 8 weeks.

* Ribavirin (Copegus, Moderiba, Rebetol, Ribasphere, Virazole): 24 to 48 weeks or longer.

* Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) with interferon and ribavirin: 12 to 24 weeks.

* Elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier): treats almost 97% of the users.

* Ombitasvir-paritaprevir- ritonavir (Technivie)

* Ombitasvir-paritaprevir-dasabuvir-ritonavir (Viekira Pack): 12 to 24 weeks.

* Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir (Vosevi)

Though it is to be noted that not everyone suffering from Hepatitis C needs a treatment procedure. There are people with an immune system strong enough to get rid of the infection from the body. In this case, your doctor might check regularly your liver functioning by conducting blood tests. Living with a disease such as Hepatitis C is one of the toughest challenges a person can experience but, there are ways to control the virus and live a normal and marvelous life.