Hepatitis C is a viral infection disease that mainly targets the liver. Hepatitis C is a chronic disease and actually a global Health issue affecting millions of people all over the globe. This viral infection based chronic disease has the characteristics to affect the liver seriously and extremely. It also affects many people who don’t know what hepatitis c actually is, what its symptoms are and how to treat it effectively. This comprehensive and detailed article is all about it. In this article we will keep discussing its overall implications and find out preventive measures to avoid it in the coming future. Let’s have a look.
Understanding Hepatitis C
As we said in an introductory paragraph of this article, hepatitis c is a viral infection disease which is caused by the hepatitis c virus named as HCV. HCV is a virus which is born in the blood. Unfortunately there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C as in the case of hepatitis A and B. So it becomes very important to adopt preventive measures in order to reduce the chances of its attack. HCV virus which is responsible for hepatitis c can lead to other severe liver diseases like liver cancer and cirrhosis. So proper diagnosis and effective treatment is crucial to manage it in time otherwise it can lead to death in some of the cases.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Do you know why Hepatitis C is so dangerous? It is because due to its complexity its symptoms even do not appear in many people. When the symptoms start to appear a lot of damage has been done to the liver. Here we are going to talk about some of the common symptoms that appear in cases of Hepatitis C.
Fatigue
A person feels much tiredness and laziness in his body in case of Hepatitis c.
Jaundice
Yellowish eyes and skin is another symptom of Hepatitis c.
Dark Urine
Dark urine is actually a significant and alarming indication that tells you that there are some issues in your liver.
Abdominal Pain
A patient starts feeling pain in the area of the abdomen especially in the right upper side of the tummy.
Loss of Appetite
In case of Hepatitis C, one of the common but important symptoms is the reduction or loss of appetite. Not only does appetite decrease, but patients also feel nausea.
Joint Pain
In most of the cases it is observed that a person feels joint pain without having any prominent causes.
Muscle Soreness
Just like joint pain patients feel muscle pain also without any clear reasons.
Fever and Itchy Skin
There are also indications of minor types of fever and persistent itching when anybody is suffering from hepatitis c.
Now the problem and confusion is that the above mentioned symptoms are actually very simple and minor. These symptoms are somehow very similar as in some other chronic diseases. Due to this situation it becomes really very difficult to differentiate it with others.
Transmission of Hepatitis C
Here at the moment the question is how Hepatitis C virus is transmitted to a person. This question is actually a key and finding its answer is really crucial for its prevention. Medical study shows that this virus actually appears when it is contacted with infected blood. Here in the following we are going to provide you complete information of its transmission.
Injecting Drugs
In most of the cases it is observed that this chronic virus is transmitted when drug or medicine is injected to a person. Virus transfers from the injection needle to the blood of that person that is being injected.
Blood Expansion
Blood transmission is another way where Hepatitis C virus transfers from that source. It was actually most common especially before 1992 because at that time there were no strict rules available.
Healthcare Negligence
Due to the lack of proper Healthcare practices Hepatitis C virus transmits. Lack of proper sterilization of medical equipment is the biggest reason in this context.
Tattooing and Piercing
While tattooing and piercing, the chances of hepatitis C transmission increase at that time when non-sterilized equipment is used.
Mother to Child
There are also chances of transmission of Hepatitis C virus from mother to child during childbirth. Researcher shows that this type of risk is smaller as compared to others.
Sexual Contact
One of the reasons for the transmission of HCV virus is through sexual contact. The chances of its transmission increase at that time when sex is being had with multiple partners.
Hepatitis C Diagnosis
As we have discussed earlier, Hepatitis C is actually a silent but very dangerous disease. Due to the lack of vaccines it becomes really important to diagnose this type of chronic disease in its early stage for effective treatment. There are several steps and methods for its diagnosis. Blood test is one of them. Blood test is taken in order to know the availability of antibodies against Hepatitis C virus. After the presence of antibodies the next important test PCR is conducted. This type of test is very important to detect the presence of the virus and its severity. Besides that, in order to check out whether the virus has damaged liver and if damage then what is its extent. For this purpose some important tests are connected like liver function tests and liver biopsies tests.
Treatment Options
In recent times advancement in the case of Hepatitis C has been observed. The arrival of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) is a best example of it. So don’t go anywhere else because we are going to explain some of the basic treatment options that you can go for.
Direct Acting Antivirals
Medical studies show that the result percentage in direct acting antiviral methods is more than 95%. This type of treatment approach is considered more effective having lesser side effects as compared to others.
Interferon and Ribavirin
Interferon and Ribavirin is another treatment option available for you. But it is very important to note that this medicine is not commonly used nowadays. It is because of its critical side effects and performance as compared to direct acting antivirals DAAs.
Liver Transplant
This type of treatment option is necessary at that time when Hepatitis C virus damages the lever severely. If a patient has liver cancer then liver transplant is necessary. So all this is actually performed under the supervision of a professional healthcare provider.
Preventive Measures
The best practice in case of Hepatitis C is actually prevention because there is no vaccine that has been made yet. So here in the following we are going to discuss with you some preventive measures. Let’s have a look
Stop Sharing Needles
It is really very important not to share needles or other medical equipment with others.
Adopt Safe Medical Practices
The important thing that you have to keep in mind is to make sure that you adopt safe medical practices which are reputable in the field of medicine.
Safety in Case of Tattoo and Piercing
Those people who are very fond of getting tattoos and piercings make sure that they only go to those parlors which are licensed and follow strict protocols of sterilization.
Safe Sex Practices
During sex make sure that you are implementing safety measures, especially sex with those partners who have HIV. Besides that it is better to use condoms if necessary.
Screening and Testing
There is an alarming situation for those people who were born between 1945 and 1965. It is because during that time there were no hard and fast, strict rules of safety. So this situation demands you to perform regular testing.
Living with Hepatitis C
Although it is very difficult to live with Hepatitis C but is still pretty much possible. You can lead a healthy life by following above mentioned diagnosis and preventive measures. Here in the following we are giving you some beneficial tips in this whole picture. Let’s have a look.
Regular Medical Checkups
If you or someone else who loves you is suffering from hepatitis C then it is very important to go for regular medical checkups. So keep in touch with your healthcare provider for professional guidance.
Avoid Alcohol
If you consume alcohol then remember it can damage your liver. So in case of Hepatitis C we recommend you to avoid it completely.
Healthy Diet
Healthy diet is actually a success not only in this case but also for your happier and healthy life. Try to consume a balanced and healthy diet full of nutrients and vitamins like fruits and vegetables.
Mental Health
It is really very important to focus on your mental health when you are suffering from this chronic disease known as Hepatitis C. So at this time you need emotional and psychological support. You can get this from your beloved ones, friends and family members and also by joining support groups.
Hepatitis C in Different Populations
There are unique challenges that certain populations have to face. Research shows that some populations are at higher risk of Hepatitis C. Let’s find out.
People Who Inject Drugs
It is very important to know that those people who inject drugs have a higher risk of Hepatitis C. It is because they actually share their needles that is the core reason of HCV virus transmission. So it is important to guide them by sharing all the information that you have.
Baby Boomers
Baby boomers, especially those who were born between 1945 and 1965 must go for a complete test. Those people who are born during that period of time which is considered as the rise in population birth date are called baby boomers.
HIV Positive Individuals
Those people who are HIV patients must go for a test because there is a possibility of HCV virus transmitting to them.
Conclusion
Hepatitis C is a chronic, fatal disease that is a challenging global health issue. Unfortunately, no vaccine has yet been made to cure it. But with the right treatment options and modification in the lifestyle you can reduce chances of becoming its victims. The important things that you have to do for effective management are early diagnosis, awareness, and prevention. The continuous ongoing study and research is in progress in order to develop strategies and make certain types of vaccines to cure it. This development actually gives a lot of hope to Hepatitis C patients. The only thing that you have to do is to stay informed and be active in case of this HCV virus. In this way you not only protect yourself but also contribute to fight against Hepatitis C which is a global cause and challenge.