Hepatitis C virus (c) killer

Which is often described as the epidemic "silent" hepatitis C virus (c) remains relatively unknown and is usually diagnosed in the early stages of chronic liver disease caused when severe. Hepatitis C virus (c) more and more common infections of HIV in HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and can be fatal. Valalthab hepatitis (c) affects at least 170 million people worldwide including EUR 9 million and 4 million Americans. It is considered more of a threat to public health, it could be the next global pandemic.

In the United States of America alone 180 000 people infected annually and an estimated number of people who die annually due to hepatitis C virus (c) 10,000 people. Expected to increase this number to triple during the next ten years. The harsh reality is that we now know to only very little about hepatitis C virus (c).

What is hepatitis C virus (c), and what result?

Transmitted primarily through blood or blood products infected with the virus. He is one of a family of six viruses (a, b, c, d, e, f) or (A, B, C, E, D, G) cause hepatitis and the main reason for the majority of cases of viral hepatitis. After infection with the virus takes the evolution of the real liver disease about 15 years old. It may take 30 years before that weaken the liver or the entire show scars or cancer cells. "Silent killer" Hepatitis C virus (c), does not give signs or symptoms of an easy discrimination. Patients can feel healthy and show complete, but they are infected and injuring others.

According to WHO, 80% of patients evolve to chronic hepatitis. And about 20 percent of whom are infected with liver cirrhosis, and then 5 percent of them develop liver cancer during the first ten years following. Currently, the liver failure due to hepatitis (c) the main cause of chronic liver transplants in the United States. And cost an estimated $ 600 million annually in medical expenses and lost work time.

Have been identified viruses that cause hepatitis (a) and (b) since a long time but the virus that causes hepatitis (c) is not recognized only in 1989. I have been developing and deploying test for the detection of the virus (c) 1992. This test relies on detection of antibodies to the virus, known as the (ANTI-HCV).

How to HIV transmission (c)

Is transmission of this virus in the following ways:
  • Blood transfusion, blood products (articles of blood coagulants, drug abuse by injection, injection).
  • Organ Transplantation (College, liver, heart) from a donor infected.
  • Renal failure patients who are in the process of dialysis are at risk of infection with hepatitis (c).
  • The use of needles or surgical instruments contaminated during surgery or dental care.
  • Injury by needles contaminated by mistake.
  • Participate in the use of sharp tools such as razors or tattoo tools.
  • *** Ye relations of multiple partners. Virus does not spread easily between married or from mother to child not recommended to use a condom or condoms for married couples, but it is recommended to use the relations with multilateral *** Ye.
The most important are two methods of transmission are through drug addiction because of the use of injection needles and their circulation among the addicts to inject drugs, and the transfer of blood and blood products. So it was Recipients of blood, until 1991, are at risk of infection with hepatitis (c). It also became hepatitis type (c) widespread among patients with haemophilia or Hemophilia Hemophilia (disease non-clotting blood) and who are treated with materials to assist in the clotting of blood, which was one of the thousands of blood donors before the discovery of the virus. And infection also occur between persons without the presence of factors that have been mentioned for reasons unknown.

Unlike hepatitis B, (a) Vveros hepatitis (c) is not transferred through food, water or feces. The hepatitis C virus (c) is intended largely between family members.

There are a few factors help play an important role in the development of cirrhosis:
  1. Life time of infection (on average, patients who develop the disease in the older age groups are vulnerable to the disease develops rapidly, while the evolution is slower in younger patients).
  2. Alcoholism (all studies to make sure that alcohol is very important co-factor in the evolution of chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis of the liver)
  3. Concurrent infection with the virus that in HIV (the virus that causes AIDS)
  4. Concurrent infection with hepatitis C virus (b)

What happens after infection with hepatitis (c)?

Most people living with HIV do not show symptoms at first, but some may suffer from symptoms of acute hepatitis (jaundice or the emergence of young). Body may be able to overcome and destroy the virus, and the incidence of that be up to 15%. The rest have to evolve to the situation of chronic disease.

What happens in hepatitis (c) Chronic?

Proportion of cases that turn from acute to chronic is estimated at 85% - 70%. And 25% of them turn from chronic inflammation to fibrosis in the liver within 10 years or more. Chronic inflammation such as acute have no symptoms and does not cause any constraints, except in some cases where the symptoms of fatigue and the appearance of yolk and some other symptoms. When a patient shows symptoms of liver cirrhosis of liver failure at the other, and may not show symptoms of cirrhosis may be the only reason for his discovery of an enlarged liver and spleen or other symptoms. Fibrosis in the liver could be offered by the emergence of liver cancer. The development of hepatitis (c) slow and needs to be decades, so what intend to take a decision on treatment is not urgent, but should not neglect the treatment.

Is there a possibility of transmission through the practices *** Ye?

Virus does not spread easily between married couples do not advise using a condom or condoms for married couples, but it is recommended to use the relations with multiple partners *** Ye. The proportion of hepatitis (c) higher among groups that practice relationships *** Ye mixed or atypical professionals such as prostitution or gay. And here is difficult to differentiate between the impact of other factors such as drug abuse by injection.

There are a few factors may play a role in the incidence of hepatitis (c) through practices such as Ye *** the level of virus in the blood and the nature of the practice *** Ye terms of exposure to contaminated blood (during the menstrual cycle or the presence of blisters in the genital tract) coincided with the infection or virus that in HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other diseases Ye *** *** or contact you through the anus (paintingsAt).

Is there a possibility of transmission to family members?

Hepatitis C virus (c) is not transferred through food, water or feces and is therefore not intended largely between family members. Rate of transmission increased slightly if you are participating in the use of sharp tools such as razors or toothbrushes. Should not be concerned about the possibility of transmission through food and drink by the person who processed.

Is there a possibility of transmission from mother to her?

Does not prevent pregnancy for women infected with hepatitis (c). Not recommended an examination of the hepatitis C virus (c) for pregnant women. The percentage of vertical transmission (from mother to child) is less than 6%. There is no way to prevent it. However, children infected with the virus since birth are not exposed to health problems in the first years of life. A need for further studies to determine the effect of the virus with them as they age.

Appears to be greater risk of transmission in women with high levels of virus in the blood or with the presence of concurrent infection with the virus that in HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). Method of delivery (caesarean or natural) does not seem to affect the rate of transmission of hepatitis C virus (c) from mother to child. There is also no link between breast feeding by HIV from mother to child. But it is recommended to stop breastfeeding by breast nipples breast if it is exposed to cracking or if the wounded breast bacterial infection that the problem is resolved.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?

  • Sometimes the patient comes with symptoms indicate the presence of cirrhosis of the liver, such as yolk that accompanies ascites, or enlargement of the liver, spleen or bleeding of varicose veins or any other common symptoms such as fatigue.
  • Symptoms usually are not common and if found, this may indicate a medical condition, acute or chronic condition advanced.
  • Some people discover the existence of the disease have a chance when a blood test which shows a rise in some liver enzymes known as ALT, AST and testing for HIV (c).

What if you do not feel sick?

Many persons with hepatitis (c) chronic do not have symptoms, but should consult a doctor for treatment. Some people complain only of fatigue.

How is the diagnosis of hepatitis (c)?

  • When a person's risk of hepatitis through the presence of symptoms or a rise in liver enzymes, the hepatitis (c) can be recognized by blood tests which reveal the presence of antibodies to the virus (c) ANTI-HCV.
  • If the blood test by test (ELISA ELISA) is positive, it means that the person has been exposed to the virus and liver disease may have been caused by a virus (c). But sometimes the test will be positive Baktae, so we must be sure of the result. Usually there will be several weeks delay between initial infection with HIV and between the high proportion of antibodies in the blood. So it may be testing negative in the early stages of infection by HIV and must be re-test again after several months if the level of liver enzyme ALT is high.
  • It is known that about 5% of patients with hepatitis (c) they are not antibodies to the virus (c), but the result of a blood test HCV-RNA positive.
  • If the clinical examination and blood tests normal should be repeated testing because hepatitis (c) is characterized by the liver enzymes which rise and fall and that the enzyme hepatic ALT may be kept normal for a long time, so the person who has been a positive test ANTI-HCV is a carrier of the virus if liver enzymes were normal.
  • If the antibodies of anti-virus (c) present in the blood ANTI-HCV, it can be interpreted as evidence for the presence of infection, previous infection (c), and because the test confirmatory HCV-RNA of the virus positive, you should not convert these people to a doctor who specializes disease liver for further testing and biopsy of the liver because a large proportion of them are infected with chronic hepatitis.

Is it possible to avoid hepatitis (c)?

Unfortunately there is still no vaccine or preventive treatment against hepatitis (c), but there are some guidelines that can be followed to reduce the incidence of tags:
  • Use of tools and medical devices for single-use only once, such as needles.
  • Heat sterilization of medical equipment (autoclaves - dry heat).
  • Dealing with devices and medical waste carefully.
  • Avoid the joint use of sharp tools (such as razors, needles, toothbrushes, nail scissors).
  • Avoid drugs.
  • Patients with hepatitis (c) should not donate blood because of hepatitis (c) transmitted through blood and blood products.

There is near unanimity in the moment that people living with HIV (c) should not worry about the transmission of infection to their families at home, or to those who work or deal with them if they follow the instructions above. Because the virus is (c) is not transmitted through eating and drinking, so people living with HIV (c) can be involved in preparing food for others.

A person with hepatitis (c) Fair also vulnerable to hepatitis (a) and (b). Need to consult a doctor about the possibility of vaccination against hepatitis (a) or (b).

Is there a cure for hepatitis (c)?

To the late nineties was the use of drug Interferon Alfa Interferon alpha by injection 3 times a week with the drug ribavirin ribavirin by mouth for the treatment of chronic hepatitis (c) for 6 or 12 months and the results were not encouraging, particularly in the Arab world.

But now, after it has been the development of drug interferon differently led to significantly increase its effectiveness, doctors advise using Alintrfen developer, called the Beige - peginterferon alfa-interferon is given once a week instead of 3 times. And the results are indeed very encouraging as it can become doctors now say that it is available for the treatment of Hepatitis C.

Result of this development is now available two formulations:
Beige - interferon alpha 2b peginterferon alfa-2b
Beige - interferon alpha-2a peginterferon alfa-2a

Based on the type of virus they are used either alone or in combination with ribavirin oral ribavirin for 6 or 12 months.

Warning:

Drug ribavirin ribavirin harmful and cause fetal abnormalities, so to prevent pregnancy during the abuse, whether by the mother or the father. And must take all precautions to prevent pregnancy by using contraception.