What about Hepatitis c?

Question

Does anyone know anyone with Hep c? I have a close friend who was just diagnosed. and is going to be on the med called perigon anyone familiar.

Thanks

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis_C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by a hepatotropic virus called Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic hepatitis can result later in cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. An estimated 150-200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. It is the leading cause of liver transplant in the United States.


Am not familiar with the medication--do know that it is the name of a company though :)

Answer 2

its peg intron. depending on genotype it can be a year long or as little as 6 months.

antiviral chemo is a big thing, but tell him the more water he drinks (at least a gallon a day) the better he will feel. he also needs to go on an antidepressant at least a month or two before chemo and have an anti-axiety pill such as buspar to help in the third week of treatment (many feel anxious at this time in treatment).

just be there for him. make sure he sees his doctor every month.

have you been tested for hcv? most dont know they have it. you have to ask for the specific test for HCV because a liver panel does not always indicate disease when the doc looks at alt and ast levels (they can appear normal in those with hcv)

good luck to you both!

*edited...yes, dreamwalker...there is NO vaccine for HCV!
(thank you to the poster below my post!)

Answer 3

dream walker should be advised that there is no vaccine for hep C.

Answer 4

no, I don't, but I just got my shots done for Hep. A :D