- Hepatitis C - "the tender murderer"
- Signs
- Diagnostics
- Treatment
- Forum
Hepatitis C - a disease which is caused by a virus that infects the liver. Over time, it can cause diseases such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. Many people find that they have hepatitis
Hepatitis - the scourge of our time
With only the function of the liver have been seriously disrupted - it can happen in a few years after infection.
History of discovery
In some people, the symptoms of hepatitis C occur within a relatively short time and then begins recovery. This acute hepatitis
Acute hepatitis - always seriously
C which is quite rare. Most infected people develop chronic hepatitis C.
Although hepatitis C can be a very dangerous disease, as a rule, patients with this diagnosis continue to lead full, active lives.
Hepatitis C has been included in the list of diseases in 1989. Long before that, in many countries, doctors found that the blood of patients with disorders of the liver, hepatitis A
Hepatitis A - do not forget to wash your hands!
and B give negative results. This unknown disease was named hepatitis C. Soon, a study was conducted, according to which about 3% of the world's population are living with chronic hepatitis C.
How is hepatitis C
It is believed that about 50% of HCV is the sharing of syringes. In general, all the way hepatitis C because otherwise associated with exposure to blood of infected people. For example, you can get hepatitis B, if you use a razor with a carrier, or a toothbrush (provided that the toothbrush has remained infected blood, and that your mouth has sores, through which the blood can get into your body) . Prior to 1992, donated blood is not tested for hepatitis C, so some of those in the earlier years of blood transfusions, could theoretically be infected with hepatitis. At present, the probability of infection with hepatitis C transfusion is very low.
Infection with hepatitis C can occur through sexual contact, but this is rare, such as having sex without a condom during menstruation, or if there is damage to the genitals. Upon contact with the mucosa or sperm contamination does not occur.
One should not forget these routes of transmission of hepatitis C as tattooing and piercing jabs in showrooms; particularly dangerous to make tattoos or piercings in third world countries where there is no strict control over the observance of sanitary norms.
In rare cases, hepatitis C can get the baby during childbirth.
If you suspect that you might be infected, as soon as possible go through screening for hepatitis C.
As you can not get hepatitis C
Hepatitis C can not be infected if you hug, kiss infected, drink and eat with him of the same dish, or use a bathroom.
Soon after infection, people with hepatitis C may notice at the following symptoms: constant and groundless fatigue, joint pain
Joint pain - how to understand what is going on?
and abdominal pain, itching, muscle pain, dark urine, yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice). Most people with chronic hepatitis C, a long (up to 10-15 years after infection), there are no symptoms of this disease.
Often people accidentally discovers infected with hepatitis C, for example, in the general medical examination. Hepatitis C is detected during blood tests.
If, according to the analysis in your blood has antibodies to hepatitis C virus, you may need a biopsy to determine whether the organ is damaged.
If the liver is damaged too severely, the patient can do without treatment. To date, the best remedy for hepatitis C is a combination of two medications: peginterferon and ribavirin. Their effectiveness for each individual patient depends on how impaired liver function, as well as the variety of hepatitis C.
To prevent or slow disease progression, you need to eat right, exercise, and most importantly, avoid alcohol and illicit drugs. In addition, some medications can affect the liver - the doctor should take this into account, writing a hepatitis C patient any medication.
Ways of transmission of hepatitis C
The sexual transmission of hepatitis B is only 3-5% probability, most often from an infected man to a woman than vice versa. Infection during intercourse may damage the integrity of the skin, blood allocation or with a high viral load.
Until now, little research the probability of virus transmission from mother to child. Doctors recommend the presence of hepatitis C virus in a pregnant woman to do a cesarean section, although still not proven that could cause contamination of the child - during fetal development or during natural childbirth. In most cases, the children of infected mothers are born healthy.
Hepatitis C can not be infected by airborne droplets, a handshake, a kiss, the sharing of household items, but only if there is no contact with the blood of a sick person. Infection occurs when the blood of an infected person enters the bloodstream of a healthy person.
The forms of hepatitis C
There are acute and chronic hepatitis. In 70% of cases of acute hepatitis C becomes chronic.
Sometimes it happens (10-20%) that after infection the immune system fights the virus itself and successfully defeats him for 6-12 months.
When a virus or antibodies to hepatitis C is the main thing - not to self-medicate. An urgent need to see a doctor, who will tell you how you need to build treatment. In the absence of contraindications and adequate financial resources recommend treatment with interferon and ribavirin.
Living with Hepatitis C
Patients with hepatitis C should first take steps to avoid infecting healthy people. If you are infected and do not live alone, keep your toothbrushes and razors separately and out of the reach of small children. Sharing sanitary ware, dishes and towels are not associated with the risk of contracting hepatitis. Details tell family members about their illness; they must know clearly contagious Hepatitis C than it is dangerous, is transmitted and how to protect themselves from infection.
Advance warning of his sexual partners about his illness. There is a chance that after this they refuse to have sex with you, but that is their right. Despite the fact that the risk of infection during sex is small, it can not be ignored.
If you find it difficult to reconcile with his diagnosis, consult a psychologist or a support group. Communication with people who are also infected with hepatitis C, often helps to look at his disease with different eyes, and see that it is not an obstacle to a happy life.
Exercise, often try to get enough sleep, eat right, eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Remember that motion, healthy sleep, as well as minerals and vitamins necessary for hepatitis C, as long as possible to stay healthy and active person.
It is necessary to change lifestyle to reduce, or even better, stop drinking alcohol, not to engage in heavy physical labor, reduce the consumption of fried, spicy, reduce the load to the liver. Precautions should be taken to receive vitamins, nutritional supplements, which can adversely affect the liver, before use of medicines is best to consult a doctor-hepatologist. You can receive support and cleanse the liver homeopathic remedies hepatoprotectors. The main thing in this case - not to burden the already suffering liver, facilitate its work. Regular surveys, tests help monitor the viral load. It is important to strengthen the immune system by mobilizing the body's defenses to fight the virus. Means, which would eliminate the hepatitis C once and for all, unfortunately, does not exist yet.
When you visit medical facilities, dental offices, it is desirable to warn about the disease, as it is better known to close relatives, sexual partners. Infectious disease doctors recommended in the presence of the hepatitis C virus to be vaccinated against hepatitis B and A, to avoid possible excessive load on the liver in the case of re-infection.
Hepatitis C - a dangerous disease that can be life threatening, but if not carried out any treatment or take any action. When properly organized way of life with him can lead a normal life, to have children, it is important just in time to notice it, to treat it seriously and hope for the best.