What is hepatitis C (Hep C)
Hepatitis C is a killer disease because of the reason that it is tough to cure if one does not use the proper medication as the very nature of the disease is infectious. The Hepatitis C disease also called HCV has a prime impact on the liver. The real reason for worry is that one does not know about the initial infection due to of lack of symptoms or no symptoms at all in early stages. But there can be fever at occasions apart from the dark urine, the occurrence of the yellow skin and the pain in the abdomen. You can find this virus in the percentage of seventy-five to eighty-five, and it is in the liver. This virus finally leads to the disease of the liver and the cirrhosis is one of the main complications. It may result in death. The four problems that can occur because of Hepatitis C are liver failure, liver cancer, gastric or esophageal
You can find this virus in the percentage of seventy-five to eighty-five, and it is in the liver. This virus finally leads to the disease of the liver and the cirrhosis is one of the main complications. It may result in death. The four problems that can occur because of Hepatitis C are liver failure, liver cancer, gastric or esophageal varices. You can get the HCV infection because of blood to blood contact, and it can be due to the intravenous drug use. The other cause is the medical equipment that is poorly sterilized. This infection can also occur due to transfusions and needle stick injuries. If you use the blood screening, then the risk due to of the transfusion is less than one for two million. Another thing about Hepatitis C is that the disease can go from the infected mother to the baby. You cannot get this ailment because of the external contact. The five known Hepatitis C viruses are A, B, C, D, and E.
Source: amfAR :: The Foundation for AIDS Research
You can get the HCV infection because of blood to blood contact, and it can be due to the intravenous drug use. The other cause is the medical equipment that is poorly sterilized. This infection can also occur due to transfusions and needle stick injuries. If you use the blood screening, then the risk due to of the transfusion is less than one for two million. Another thing about Hepatitis C is that the disease can go from the infected mother to the baby. You cannot get this ailment because of the external contact. The five known Hepatitis C viruses are A, B, C, D, and E.
Different Types of Hepatitis
There are mainly five types of Hepatitis which is A, B, C, D and E
Chronic Viral Hepatitis C (HCV)
Almost eighty percent of the people who are subject to infection because of Hepatitis C develop a chronic infection. There is a presence of traceable viral replication for six months. During the initial decades, it is not necessary that one can get the symptoms. With the chronic Hepatitis C infection that is of the mild order, there can be fatigue and the cognitive issues. When the infection persists for several years, it could lead to liver complications like the cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. The liver experiences fatty changes in half of the infected population, and all this takes place before the development of cirrhosis. If the person with Hepatitis C is making alcohol in excess, it increases the risk to hundred fold. Because of the liver cirrhosis developed due to Hepatitis C, the person can also develop portal hypertension, and it could also lead to the enlarged veins in the stomach.
A statistical representation of areas affected by Hepatitis C. How many people are suffering from Hepatitis C globally?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Approx 150 million peoples around the world are suffering from chronic hepatitis C (Hep C) disease.
- Every year more individuals are infected and 90% of unaware of the infection. Overall 7,00000 people died every year.
- The current available Hep C treatment is very expensive in lower-middle-income countries, and poor people cannot easily afford the treatment.
- Hepatitis c virus is continuously spreading in developing countries.
What are the Symptoms or Effects of Hepatitis C on Your Body
Mostly in the 15 percent of the cases of Hepatitis C, you can see the acute symptoms. You can find the mild symptoms like the decreased appetite. There can be an ache in muscles and joints and also the weight loss. In the rare cases, you can have the acute liver failure. There are cases of acute infection that are not linked to jaundice. according to below Healthline infographic, you can completely understand the effects of Hepatitis C in a body.
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How is hepatitis C transmitted or Causes of Hepatitis C
Transmission varies from the developed world to developing countries. In the developed countries, this virus is primarily transmitted because of the intravenous drug use, but in the developing world, blood transfusion is the prime cause.
Other cause of transmission can be the multiple sexual partners. However it is completely confirmed, but there can be a risk factor because of sexual activity. It has been verified that in case there is a body modification like tattooing, it could increase the risk of Hepatitis C infection. The risk factor can increase because of the sharing of the unsterilized tattooing equipment. If there is the exchange of the razor, toothbrush or the manicuring equipment, it could lead to the infection because these items can be contaminated with blood. There are chances of occurrence of the infection during delivery, but it is not clear whether breastfeeding transmits the infection. So far nothing is reported in this matter.
Hepatitis C mainly transmitted through
- Unsafe Injection drug use
- Unsafe sex with an HCV virus infected person.
- Mother to childbirth transmission
- donated blood etc.
Hepatitis C cannot transmitted through daily normal activities like shaking hands, hugging, kissing, breast feed and sharing foods together.
How many types of Hepatitis C genotype.
The HCV virus is a small enveloped RNA virus. There are mainly six genotypes actually, and they are from one to six. They divide into many subtypes, and the number of subtypes depends on genotype. HCV Genotype 1 is the prime cause of maximum cases in the United States. In an infected person, billions of virus particles produce every single day.
Hepatitis C diagnosis OR Hepatitis C treatment
According to WHO in past 2015, approx 2,75,000 people successfully got the Hepatitis C treatment based on new Direct Anti Antiviral (DAAs) method all the people were settled in low-middle income countries.
That made happened because of the DDAs medicine Sofosbuvir, that price for 28 days supply is very low as compare to original Hepatitis C medications.
You can diagnose with the help of blood testing, and it is a recommendation for all the sick people. With the help of blood testing, you can look for the antibodies for the virus or the RNA. You do not have a vaccine against Hepatitis C, but the chronic infection can be cured to the level of ninety percent with the help of medications like simeprevir or sofosbuvir. If you go for the new treatments about this ailment, it can be an expensive thing. If the development of liver cancer or liver cirrhosis occurs, there is a requirement of the liver transplant. One of the chief reasons for liver transplantation is Hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C Vaccine.
If the person has HCV genotype 1a, he can have a course of 12 weeks duration, and during this time, he can take the drugs like Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. This type of medication is also applicable if one is suffering from HCV genotype 1b. For the HCV genotype 2, there is need of the course of these drugs that can last from 12 weeks to 16 weeks. For the patients with HCV genotype 3, there is need of the course that lasts 12 weeks with the drugs like Sofosbuvir, ribavirin and the pegylated interferon. For the genotype 4, you can do the course of Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. This course is applicable for the genotype 5 and 6 as well. All these drugs are active to the level of ninety percent for the patient who suffers from this ailment.
WHO emanated HCV treatment instructions including submission for DDA based treatment of infection with all HCV genotypes, in April 2016.
Recommendations to prefer these treatment regimens within the prescribed duration to fight Hepatitis
Occult infection
A person who is infected by the Hepatitis C infection may not be able to detect the virus with the help of standard tests, and for the detection, in this case, he may have to go for the ultrasensitive tests. One will have to do the new test known as the antibody test. A certain infection, in this case, elevates serum liver enzymes. For the cured cases, the rate of the occult infection is low.