What is hepatitis c?
Hepatitis c is an infectious disease cause by hepatitis c virus (HCV) that primarily affect the liver. The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis.
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus and the most common mode of infection is through exposure to small quantity of blood. This infection caused your liver to be inflammed and normally the liver performs many metabolic function in the body such as bile production, breakdown carbohydrates, fat and protein, store glycogen as a form of energy as well as vitamins A, D, E and K, excrete bilirubin, cholesterol and drug, synthesis of clotting fa ctor, synthesis of blood proteins e.t.c. if it’s left untreated it can cause serious and potential life threatening to the liver over years.
According to WHO, estimated that 71 million people globally have chronic hepatitis c infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of this disease?
More than 2 thousands of people who are infected with HCV show no symptoms, but some symptoms usually develop 2-26weeks after being infected. The signs and symptoms that can be noticed includes the following :
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus and the most common mode of infection is through exposure to small quantity of blood. This infection caused your liver to be inflammed and normally the liver performs many metabolic function in the body such as bile production, breakdown carbohydrates, fat and protein, store glycogen as a form of energy as well as vitamins A, D, E and K, excrete bilirubin, cholesterol and drug, synthesis of clotting fa ctor, synthesis of blood proteins e.t.c. if it’s left untreated it can cause serious and potential life threatening to the liver over years.
According to WHO, estimated that 71 million people globally have chronic hepatitis c infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of this disease?
More than 2 thousands of people who are infected with HCV show no symptoms, but some symptoms usually develop 2-26weeks after being infected. The signs and symptoms that can be noticed includes the following :
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Upper abdominal pain
- Dark coloured urine
- Loss of appetite.
- Joint pain, Nausea and vomiting
- Itching of the skin
Risk factor of hepatitis C
- Healthcare worker who has been exposed to infected, through infected needle injury.
- Born to a woman with hepatitis infection.
- Having greater than 10 lifetime sex partner.
- People who has been diagnosed with HIV /AIDS have an increase risk of hepatitis c because both viral disease are transmitted in the same way.
- Having received blood transfusion before 1992.
- Received hemodialysis treatment for a long period of time.
- People who were born between 1945 -1965, the age group with the highest incident of hepatitis c infection.
- Having sexually transmitted disease , having vaginal sex during menstruation.
- Sharing of sharp objects or personal items with hepatitis c infected person (e.g razor, toothbrush, nail clippers).
- Having tattoo or body piercing.
- Sharing of cocaine snorting equipment.
- Having received blood products or organ transplant before July 1990 in Canada
- People with sexual partners who have HCV infection.
How avoid getting hepatitis c infection
There are few precautions that you need to take in order to avoid getting infected with hepatitis, practice safe sex, don’t share needle or sharp/personal objects, be careful if you are getting a tattoo or body piercing ensure they use steriled equipment, don’t touch spilled blood with bare hands.
Why you need to get tested
Early diagnosis can prevent health problems which can occur as a result of this infection such as liver damage and preventing the transmission of virus to another individual. Get tested if you are at risk of HCV.
Seek medical advise if you have persistent symptoms of hepatitis c infection, even if you don’t have symptom, get tested to rule out hepatitis c virus in your blood.
Treatment of hepatitis c
The question most people ask is if hepatitis c can be cured, the answer is yes. The newest form of treatment , hepatitis c can be cured in most individual in acute stage, more than 90% of people with hepatitis c has been cured, but currently there is no vaccine against hepatitis C virus.
Acute HCV respond well to antiviral therapy. The drug therapy works by stopping the virus from multiplying in the body.
The newest hepatitis c medication has been found to make treatment more effective, they include simeprevir, sofosbuvir e.t.c. I do advise to see your doctor to know your status and get treated on time. Complications of hepatitis c infection
If HCV infection is left untreated for a long term, complications can arise : scarring of liver( cirrhosis) ,liver cancer, liver cancer, all this can make the liver to stop working. Treating hepatitis c on time can help reduce these problem from occurring.
Early diagnosis can prevent health problems which can occur as a result of this infection such as liver damage and preventing the transmission of virus to another individual. Get tested if you are at risk of HCV.
Seek medical advise if you have persistent symptoms of hepatitis c infection, even if you don’t have symptom, get tested to rule out hepatitis c virus in your blood.
Treatment of hepatitis c
The question most people ask is if hepatitis c can be cured, the answer is yes. The newest form of treatment , hepatitis c can be cured in most individual in acute stage, more than 90% of people with hepatitis c has been cured, but currently there is no vaccine against hepatitis C virus.
Acute HCV respond well to antiviral therapy. The drug therapy works by stopping the virus from multiplying in the body.
The newest hepatitis c medication has been found to make treatment more effective, they include simeprevir, sofosbuvir e.t.c. I do advise to see your doctor to know your status and get treated on time. Complications of hepatitis c infection
If HCV infection is left untreated for a long term, complications can arise : scarring of liver( cirrhosis) ,liver cancer, liver cancer, all this can make the liver to stop working. Treating hepatitis c on time can help reduce these problem from occurring.
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