Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is spread mostly via contact with blood and blood products. Blood transfusions and the exchange of discarded needles and syringes have been the main sources of the transmission of HCV. With the introduction in 1991 of standard blood screening for HCV antibodies and advancements in the test in mid-1992, transfusion-related hepatitis C has nearly disappeared. At present, the usage of injectable drug is the most common risk factor for getting Hapatitis C.
What is Hapatiis C?
Hepatitis is a term that refers to liver inflammation. When the liver is inflamed or injured, the organ’s ability to function can be compromised. Hepatitis can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive alcohol consumption, toxins, certain drugs, and certain medical disorders. The hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus are the most common hepatitis viruses, followed by hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.
Difference
According to Marham Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are all liver infections that are caused by viruses that are different from one another. Despite the fact that they can all cause similar symptoms, they are distributed in distinct ways and have different effects on the liver. Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection that is treated with antibiotics. While both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can begin as short-term infections, the virus can persist in the body for an extended period of time, resulting in chronic (long-term) infection in some persons. There are vaccines available to protect against hepatitis A and hepatitis B; however, there is currently no vaccine available to protect against hepatitis C.
Who Should Be Subjected to Testing?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you get tested at least once regardless of your circumstances. If any of the following apply to you, you should definitely get screened:
- Have received a blood transfusion prior 1992
- Before 1987, I was given blood products to treat clotting difficulties.
- Ever taken IV drugs
- Have a high-risk sexual encounter (multiple partners, history of sexually transmitted diseases)
- If you live with or care for someone who has HCV, you should get tested.
- Those who were born between the years 1945 and 1965
- Ever traded cocaine snorting tools with a friend
- Were born to a mother who was infected with hepatitis C
Symptoms
Chronic hepatitis C is a term used to describe a long-term infection with the hepatitis C virus. It is typically a “silent” infection that goes undetected for many years until the virus destroys the liver to the point where it causes the signs and symptoms of liver disease to appear.
Among the signs and symptoms are:
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Bruising is really easy.
- Fatigue
- Having a bad appetite
- Skin and eye discolouration that is yellow in colour (jaundice)
- Urine that is dark in colour
- Skin that is itchy
- You have an accumulation of fluid in your abdomen (ascites)
- Loss of weight
- Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech are all possible symptoms (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Blood vessels on your skin that look like spiders (spider angiomas)
Causes
The hepatitis C virus is the causative agent of hepatitis C infection (HCV). When blood tainted with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person, the virus multiplies and the infection spreads.
HCV can be found in various different forms around the world, which are referred to as genotypes. There have been seven different HCV genotypes identified, as well as more than 67 subtypes. Type 1 HCV is the genotype that is most commonly encountered.
Despite the fact that chronic hepatitis C has a similar course regardless of the genotype of the virus that infects the liver, treatment recommendations differ based on the viral genotype.
Complications
If you have had a chronic hepatitis C infection for many years, you may develop serious problems, such as the following:
Scarring of the liver (Cirrhosis)
The onset of cirrhosis may develop after decades of chronic hepatitis C infection. Scarring in the liver makes it difficult for the liver to perform its functions.
Carcinoma of the hepatospleen
Liver Cancer
Approximately 1% of those infected with hepatitis C may go on to develop liver cancer.
Liver Failure
Hepatosplenomegaly As the disease progresses, your liver may begin to malfunction.
Conclusion
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the liver, which can sometimes result in serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is disseminated through the blood of infected individuals. We always suggest to talk instantly with the best gastroenterologist in Karachi if someone see any symptom of hapatitis C.
Usually, people are not willing to have the initial check-ups due to the hectic wait for the appointment. Therefore, Marham is providing the best health care service with the instant appointments of health care providers.
FAQs
Is it possible to contract hepatitis C via the bathroom?
The “fecal-oral” pathway is the most common method of transmission for the hepatitis A virus. If a person with hepatitis A does not thoroughly wash their hands after going to the restroom, they run the risk of contaminating objects, food, or beverages. When someone else puts these materials in their mouth, they run the risk of becoming contaminated.
Is Hepatitis C a treatable disease?
Chronic HCV is typically cured nowadays with oral drugs given once a day for two to six months on a daily basis. Despite this, around half of those infected with HCV are unaware of their infection, primarily due to the absence of symptoms, which can take decades to manifest.
Is it possible to lead a regular life while suffering from Hepatitis C?
In most cases, people with hepatitis C can lead relatively normal lives if the disease is detected and treated early. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 3 to 5 million people are living with chronic hepatitis C, a virus that causes inflammation and scarring in the liver.
After being diagnosed with Hep C, how long can a person expect to live?
People with hepatitis C can live for many years after being diagnosed, but the length of time varies from person to person. An analysis of data from 2014 revealed that patients infected with the hepatitis C virus died on average 15 years earlier than those who did not have the infection. As a result of the inflammation caused by hepatitis C, the liver suffers severe damage.
