WHAT IS HEPATITIS C?

Hepatitis is a very broad term describing the liver inflammation. This can be cause be several different mechanisms. Hepatitis is caused by a viral infection of the liver. Depending of the type of the virus, we know of Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, with Hepatitis C being the most problematic.

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). HCV is a small virus consisting of viral RNA found in the core of the virus, as seen from the picture, and an envelope that protects the virus. Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus that infects the liver. In time, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

When HCV enters human bloodstream it floats into the liver where it starts to replicate by using human liver cells to create new viruses. This causes liver inflammation that is in turn followed by liver cirrhosis. In short, what Hepatitis C is doing to the liver is scarring them and slowly disabling the function the liver performs. This action can in the end lead to liver cancer that can only be treated by surgically replacing the liver via liver transplant.

On the upside, there are viable treatments for Hepatitis C, based on interferon medication. However, the medications are becoming more and more evolved which lead to the invention of Sofosbuvir – the first all-oral Hep C therapy.

What is hepatitis C is hence best described as a virus infection that causes liver damage and eventually liver failure. The disease is commonly asymptomatic – that means that there are no apparent symptoms such as pain or fever. However, if patient is closely observed there are some symptoms that can suggest Hepatitis C infection.

With more than 170 million estimated patient around the world, the New Sofosbuvir treatment of Hep C is very important. If Hep C is rapidly treated, the following problems with liver surgery can be effectively avoided.Many people don’t know that they have hepatitis C until they already have some liver damage. This can take many years. Some people who get hepatitis C have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis C. But most people who are infected with the virus go on to develop long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C.

Although hepatitis C can be very serious, most people can manage the disease and lead active, full lives.

What causes hepatitis C infection?

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is spread by contact with an infected person’s blood.

• You share needles and other equipment used to inject illegal drugs. This is the most common way to get hepatitis C in the United States.
• You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. As of 1992 in the United States, all donated blood and organs are screened for hepatitis C.
• You get a shot with a needle that has infected blood on it. This happens in some developing countries where they use needles more than once when giving shots.
• You get a tattoo or a piercing with a needle that has infected blood on it. This can happen if equipment isn’t cleaned properly after it is used.

In rare cases, a mother with hepatitis C spreads the virus to her baby at birth, or a health care worker is accidentally exposed to blood that is infected with hepatitis C.

The risk of getting hepatitis C through sexual contact is very small.1 The risk is higher if you have many sex partners.You cannot get hepatitis C from. Read More

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