Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV = Hepatitis C virus). Hepatitis C virus entry into liver cells, using the genetic machinery inside the cell to duplicate the Hepatitis C virus and infect many other cells.

15% of cases of Hepatitis C infection is acute, meaning the body is automatically cleaned and no consequences. Unfortunately 85% of cases, hepatitis C infection becomes chronic and slowly damages the liver for years. In that time, the liver can be broken into cirrhosis (hardening of the liver), end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.

Hepatitis means swelling of the hati.Banyak kinds of viral hepatitis C. In many cases, the virus enters the body, began life in the liver cells, disrupt the normal activity of the cell, then use the genetic machinery inside the cell to duplicate the Hepatitis C virus and then infect other healthy cells.

If you have Hepatitis C, it is important to eat healthy and avoid alcohol. Alcohol can worsen liver damage you, whether you are in treatment or not.

One of the common symptoms of Hepatitis C is chronic fatigue. Fatigue can also be a side effect of treatment of Hepatitis C. Fatigue caused by Hepatitis C can be resolved with adequate rest and perform a routine exercise.

Hepatitis C virus is very clever to transform themselves quickly. Today there are at least six major types of hepatitis C virus (often called genotypes) and more than 50 subtypes.

This is the reason why the body can not fight viruses effectively and research have not been able to make a vaccine against viral hepatitis C. Genotype does not determine how severe and how quickly the development of hepatitis C, however, certain genotypes may not respond as good as the others in treatment.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C

Often people who suffer from Hepatitis C have no symptoms, although infection has occurred for many years.

If the symptoms below there are probably vague:

Tired
Loss of appetite
Stomach ache
Urine becomes dark
Yellow skin or eyes (called "jaundice") are rare
In some cases, Hepatitis C can cause an increase in certain enzymes in the liver, which can be detected on routine blood tests. However, some patients with chronic hepatitis C have levels of liver enzymes or abnormal fluctuations.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to perform the test if you think you have the risk of contracting hepatitis C or if you had any contact with contaminated people or objects. The only way to identify this disease is by blood tests.

Transmission of Hepatitis C

Transmission of Hepatitis C is usually through direct contact with blood or its products and needles or other sharp instruments contaminated. In many everyday activities such as Hepatitis C infection risk bleed from cuts or nosebleeds, or menstrual blood. Personal equipment are exposed to contact by the patient can transmit the hepatitis C virus (such as toothbrushes, razors or manicure tools). Risk of Hepatitis C infection through sexual intercourse is higher in people who have more than one partner.

Hepatitis C transmission is rare from Hepatitis C infected mother to a newborn or other family members. However, if the mother is also HIV positive, the risk of transmitting hepatitis C is very much possible. Breastfeeding does not transmit hepatitis C.

If you have Hepatitis C, you can not transmit hepatitis C to others through hugs, handshakes, sneezing, coughing, sharing eating utensils and drinking, casual contact, or other contacts are not exposed to blood. A person who is infected with Hepatitis C can infect other people two weeks after being infected himself.