Get Best Hepatitis C Treatment: Know Symptoms & Diagnosis
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that makes your liver swell and become inflamed. If not taken care of, it can harm your liver. You can get hepatitis C if you come into contact with blood that has the virus in it. Nowadays, with the availability of modern treatments, it is possible to cure the HCV infection and many individuals can have a normal life expectancy. It is one of five known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E.
Symptoms
The hepatitis C incubation period varies from 2 weeks to 6 months. At the beginning of the infection, the majority of patients do not show any HCV symptoms.
The hepatitis C symptoms are
- Dark yellow urine
- Weakness
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Gray or clay-coloured stools
- Nausea
- Anorexia
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin, called jaundice.
An acute hepatitis C infection always doesn't turn chronic. Few patients get rid of the hepatitis C virus from their bodies after the acute phase, it is known as spontaneous viral clearance. This virus also responds well to antiviral therapy.
Prolonged infection with the hepatitis C virus is called chronic hepatitis C. The chronic hepatitis C infection is mainly a "silent" infection, going unnoticed for many years. The disease is detected when the virus results in liver damage, exhibiting the signs and symptoms of liver disease.
Causes
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the cause of hepatitis C infection. When virus-containing blood enters the circulation of an unaffected individual, the disease spreads. There are several genotypes of hepatitis C infection present in the world. There are 67 subtypes and seven genotypes. Type 1 hepatitis C is the most prevalent genotype in the US.
Regardless of the genotype of the virus that causes it, chronic hepatitis C always proceeds in the same manner. However, the viral genotype might affect the course of therapy. Modern antiviral medications, however, are capable of treating a wide range of genotypes.
Risk factors
Hepatitis C transmission occurs through contact with an infected person’s blood. It can occur due to the following reasons
- Using unsterilised needles and syringes; infusion bags, and improperly sterilized surgical equipment or other drug materials infected with the HCV virus.
- Blood transfusion with contaminated blood
- If a person gets an accidental prick with an infected needle
- Being tattooed or pierced with unsterilised inks or tools that were used on a hepatitis C person
- Getting in contact with the blood or open wounds of an infected individual
- Using a hepatitis C-infected razor, toothbrush, nail clippers, or manicuring or pedicuring equipment
- Nausea
- Anorexia
- The HCV is passed on from the mother to the unborn child
- Through unprotected sex with a person having an HCV infection
Prevention
- Be cautious while undergoing body piercing and tattooing. Prefer a reputable shop and enquire whether the equipment is properly cleaned
- Avoid unprotected sex
- Avoid using illicit drugs
- Do not use infected needles, syringes, razors, toothbrushes, manicuring or pedicuring equipment. Etc
- Stay away from alcohol consumption and smoking
- There is no hepatitis C vaccine. It is possible to prevent the disease by taking precautions not to get infected with the virus and doing regular blood tests to detect and treat the illness in time
Diagnosis of Hepatitis C
A blood test, called an ELISA test and anti-HCV test, is used to detect the hepatitis C virus.
HCV test results are available from a few days to a few weeks. Rapid anti-HCV tests are also available, which can give results in 20–30 minutes.
Patients with hepatitis C virus infection will be referred to a liver specialist to get the condition of their liver examined. The specialist may recommend a liver biopsy or an ultrasound test.
Treatment for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C treatment is done with antiviral medicines. In the majority of cases, they are able to cure the condition.
In acute hepatitis C patients, the doctor may monitor the disease to see if it becomes chronic before starting the treatment.
After a few months, the patient may have to undergo another blood test to see if the body has recovered from the virus.
If the HCV infection stays for several months, it is known as chronic hepatitis C. Treatment will be required in this condition.
Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (infection lasting more than 6 months) need to undergo the following treatment. It includes:
- Hepatitis C medications
- Liver function tests to assess liver damage
- Change in lifestyle habits to prevent further liver damage
