What's in this commodity

  • What is Hepatitis C?
  • Signs and symptoms
  • How do yous contract hepatitis C?
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment

What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a illness that is caused past a virus that infects the liver and if left untreated it can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and fifty-fifty liver failure. Many people who have the disease may not even know they do until there has been liver damage. Hepatitis C can be acute (short fourth dimension) or chronic (lasting a longer time) and only 15% or less of people who contract hepatitis C volition defeat the virus with their immune organisation. Co-ordinate to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in 2009, there were around xvi,000 reported cases of acute hepatitis C in the United states. In that location are around 3.2 million people in the United States who are living with chronic hepatitis C.

Signs and symptoms
At that place are non always obvious signs and symptoms of hepatitis C so if you think you may have come into contact with or contracted the disease then it is of import to get checked.

In early on stages, symptoms may include:

  • Sickness
  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Dark urine and stake stool
  • Jaundice (rarely)
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Flu-like symptoms

As hepatitis C progresses, the beneath symptoms can occur:

  • Joint or muscle discomfort
  • Low or feet
  • Neuropathy
  • Dry mouth
  • Kidney problems
  • Increased gamble of diabetes
  • Weight loss for unknown reasons
  • Itching
  • Bleeding and bruising easily
  • Spider veins

How practice you contract hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is transmitted through contact with contaminated blood, the almost common style for this to happen is through needles and syringes shared by drug users and piercings and tattoos performed under poor hygiene conditions. According to the World Health System, each year, around 3-four million people develop HCV infection.

Because the disease is only spread through exposure to an infected person's blood, it is quite hard to catch just not impossible. You cannot catch hepatitis C through:

  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Hugging
  • Kissing
  • Breastfeeding (unless nipples are cracked or bleeding)
  • Sharing utensils or glasses
  • Sharing food and water

Equally hepatitis C can be spread through infected claret the following precautions should be taken:

  • Do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers or anything else that may have traces of blood on information technology
  • Cover open up wounds or sores with bandages or ring-aids
  • Dispose of tampons, sanitary napkins, tissues, used bandages, and anything else that might have your claret on it in a safe way
  • Do non share needles with anyone else if you lot are an intravenous drug user, try to get yourself into rehab or a help group to quit
  • Brand sure whatever piercing identify, tattoo studio or nail salon that you plan on going to practices the proper precautions and hygiene rules
  • Practice not donate blood, organs, tissue, or semen
  • Always article of clothing a condom when having sexual intercourse outside of a monogamous relationship
  • If you have HCV make sure you tell anyone that you think may be at risk of catching it from you
  • Go tested if you received a blood transfusion before 1992

Diagnosis
Hepatitis C is most ofttimes diagnosed by having a claret or tissue sample taken. The blood volition be tested for antibodies relating to the virus, this can be detected two or three months later the fourth dimension of suspected wrinkle. Ensure that y'all consult your doctor if you suspect you have hepatitis.

Handling
A mutual form of handling for hepatitis C is protease inhibitors which are antiviral drugs that boring the progression of the illness. Another form of treatment is a drug called Harvoni, it is a combination of 2 pills taken daily and can cure the disease altogether. According to the National Plant of Health, depending on the type of hepatitis C, about 90 percent of the people who are treated with protease inhibitors will eventually show an absence of the disease in their claret. They will, therefore, be cured of hepatitis C. In July 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new pill that tin can cure the disease, however, will not repair the damage that the disease has done to the liver.

Notice out more about the nuts of liver health with Dr. Tarek Hassanein, M.D.

References

Amsety.com

Liverdirectory.com

WebMD