2006-08-05 05:04:31 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Hepatitis C infection is caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Persons who may be at risk for hepatitis C are those who:
Received a blood transfusion prior to July 1992
Received blood, blood products, or solid organs from a donor who has hepatitis C
Injected street drugs or shared a needle with someone who has hepatitis C
Have been on long-term kidney dialysis
Have had frequent workplace contact with blood (for instance, as a healthcare worker)
Have had sex with multiple partners
Have had sex with a person who has hepatitis C
Shared personal items, such as toothbrushes and razors, with someone who has hepatitis C
Were born to hepatitis C infected mother
The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is approximately 4 million people in the United States or about 1 in 70 to 100 people. Other hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Treatment:
There is no cure for hepatitis C.
Some patients with hepatitis C benefit from treatment with interferon alpha or a combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin.
Interferon alpha is given by injection just under the skin and has a number of side effects, including flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, depression, and thinning of hair. Treatment with interferon alpha may also interfere with the production of white blood cells and platelets.
Ribavirin is a capsule taken twice daily, and the major side effect is severe anemia (low red blood cells). Ribavirin also causes birth defects. Women should therefore avoid pregnancy during and for 6 months following treatment.
Recently, a version of interferon alpha with a longer half-life (pegylated interferon alpha) was introduced, and the longer half-life means the injections are taken weekly instead of the three times a week with standard interferon alpha. Pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin lead to a sustained response in approximately 50% of patients.
A sustained response means that the patient remains free of hepatitis C virus 6 months after stopping therapy. Approximately 40% of patients with genotype 1 infection will respond.
Rest may be recommended during the acute phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe. All patients with hepatitis C should be immunized against hepatitis A and B.
People with hepatitis C should also be careful not to take vitamins, nutritional supplements, or new over-the-counter medications without first discussing it with a doctor. People with hepatitis C should avoid any substances toxic to the liver (hepatotoxic), including alcohol. Even moderate amounts of alcohol speed up the progression of hepatitis C, and alcohol reduces the effectiveness of treatment.
2006-08-05 05:29:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean "Hepatitis C"?
Please see the webpages for more details on Hepatitis C.
2006-08-05 06:17:25 · answer #2 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what the hell? What is Hepatics?
2006-08-05 05:08:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the question? What do you want know... information? treatments? Chances of being cured? How you contract it? What?
2006-08-05 05:08:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HepatitisC-Objectives/
a good source of information, support and fun!
good luck to you!
2006-08-05 05:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by giggling.willow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What about it???
2006-08-05 05:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by savvyd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋