Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified in 1987, and it is now believed that almost 300 million people are infected. The first six months after infection are referred to as acute hepatitis. After that the disease is called chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis C treatment conventionally involved antiviral drugs like ribavarin, Pegasys and PEG-Intron. These often have quite bad, and physically demanding, side effects, especially difficult for some patients such as ex-drug and alcohol abusers, and some may favor homeopathic treatments.
Most cases of hepatitis are caused by viruses, which include hepatitis types A-E. The existence of hepatitis C (HCV) was first suspected in the 1970s, and the virus was definitively identified in 1987. It is now believed that 300 million people are infected around the world.
HCV is transmitted by blood contact. This can occur during blood transfusions, sexual contact, sporting injuries, and via unsterilized needles. Outside the developed world most cases occur medically, via unscreened blood products, and unsterilized medical equipment, such as needles.
In the developed world transmission via blood products, and other medical procedures, is now very rare. This is mostly due to well developed screening of blood donors. There are still very many people already infected via these routes as the disease was not known until 1987, and screening processes took some considerable time to become effective.
In developed countries the common infection routes are via infected needles being shared by drug users, and non-sterilized equipment being used for tattoos and body piercings. Sexual contact is possible but fairly uncommon: normally it will only occur if there is also another STD present with open sores.
The acute phase of hepatitis occurs during the first 6 months. Often (60-70% of cases) there are no symptoms, and if there are symptoms they can be very mild and non-specific, making diagnosis in this phase very uncommon. If symptoms do occur in the acute phase they may be flu-like symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, decreased appetite etc. Other symptoms can include jaundice, itching and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis infections which last over six months are referred to as chronic hepatitis. There may in fact be no symptoms, and often the disease will only be picked up by a routine medical checkup. The disease is not harmless though, and leads first to liver scarring, and then to advanced scarring (fibrosis, and cirrhosis).
As the disease has only been known for twenty years, data about the long term prognosis is patchy. Some studies suggest that one third of untreated cases will progress to cirrhosis in 20 years, and a further third will progress by 30 years. Other estimates are rather lower than this.
In most identified cases some form of hepatitis C treatment will be needed, although a few cases clear up without medical intervention. Current medical treatment is usually a 24-48 week (depends on the HCV genotype) course of antiviral drugs like ribavarin, Pegasys and PEG-Intron. These often have side effects, and some favor homeopathic treatment. The drug treatment is often very physically difficult for some patients, especially former drug and alcohol abusers. Sometimes patients taking the antiviral treatment can register for disability help during the treatment period.
Most cases of hepatitis are caused by viruses, which include hepatitis types A-E. The existence of hepatitis C (HCV) was first suspected in the 1970s, and the virus was definitively identified in 1987. It is now believed that 300 million people are infected around the world.
HCV is transmitted by blood contact. This can occur during blood transfusions, sexual contact, sporting injuries, and via unsterilized needles. Outside the developed world most cases occur medically, via unscreened blood products, and unsterilized medical equipment, such as needles.
In the developed world transmission via blood products, and other medical procedures, is now very rare. This is mostly due to well developed screening of blood donors. There are still very many people already infected via these routes as the disease was not known until 1987, and screening processes took some considerable time to become effective.
In developed countries the common infection routes are via infected needles being shared by drug users, and non-sterilized equipment being used for tattoos and body piercings. Sexual contact is possible but fairly uncommon: normally it will only occur if there is also another STD present with open sores.
The acute phase of hepatitis occurs during the first 6 months. Often (60-70% of cases) there are no symptoms, and if there are symptoms they can be very mild and non-specific, making diagnosis in this phase very uncommon. If symptoms do occur in the acute phase they may be flu-like symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, decreased appetite etc. Other symptoms can include jaundice, itching and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis infections which last over six months are referred to as chronic hepatitis. There may in fact be no symptoms, and often the disease will only be picked up by a routine medical checkup. The disease is not harmless though, and leads first to liver scarring, and then to advanced scarring (fibrosis, and cirrhosis).
As the disease has only been known for twenty years, data about the long term prognosis is patchy. Some studies suggest that one third of untreated cases will progress to cirrhosis in 20 years, and a further third will progress by 30 years. Other estimates are rather lower than this.
In most identified cases some form of hepatitis C treatment will be needed, although a few cases clear up without medical intervention. Current medical treatment is usually a 24-48 week (depends on the HCV genotype) course of antiviral drugs like ribavarin, Pegasys and PEG-Intron. These often have side effects, and some favor homeopathic treatment. The drug treatment is often very physically difficult for some patients, especially former drug and alcohol abusers. Sometimes patients taking the antiviral treatment can register for disability help during the treatment period.
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This is a good article.
ReplyDeleteHomoepathic is good but slow.
ReplyDelete