What Is Hepatitis C?
- From: Thoysan@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: 26 Jul 2005 20:48:47 -0700
All: this is from healthcare.com
What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C
virus (HCV). It is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the
United States.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
approximately 1.8% of the U.S. population, or 3.9 million Americans,
have been infected with the virus. About 35,000 new cases of hepatitis
C are estimated to occur in the United States each year.
The hepatitis C virus is blood-borne, which means that it is spread
through blood or blood products. Common routes of infection include
needlestick accidents among healthcare workers; blood transfusions
before mid-1992 (after 1992, blood banks began rigorous screening for
the hepatitis C virus with effective new testing measures); and the use
of recreational injection drugs (eg, sharing needles). However, there
are other modes of transmission and factors that may also put people at
risk for contracting hepatitis C.
To learn if you have any risk factors for hepatitis C, take our Risk
Factor Self-Assessment. For more information on transmission and risk
factors, click here.
Currently, no vaccine is available to prevent people from getting
hepatitis C. However, for patients who are infected, treatments such as
PEGASYS are available that may help clear the virus from the blood.
How Hepatitis C Develops
Hepatitis C has been referred to as a "Silent Epidemic," since it
usually progresses slowly over many years. Most people who are infected
with hepatitis C are not aware of any noticeable symptoms for as long
as one to two decades after they are infected. In fact, by the time
symptoms appear, the virus has probably already begun to damage the
liver. Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common
causes of liver transplants in the United States. For these reasons, it
is extremely important to understand the risk factors for hepatitis C
and talk to your doctor if you think you may be infected.
Once the hepatitis C virus infects a person's blood, it enters the
cells in the liver and begins to reproduce itself rapidly.
The initial stage of hepatitis C infection is called acute hepatitis C.
During this stage, which can last up to 6 months, 60% to 70% of
patients have no symptoms. However, some people in the acute stage may
experience extreme tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, and jaundice.
They may also complain of abdominal discomfort, which may be a sign
that the liver is inflamed and tender. With or without symptoms,
initial damage to the liver cells can take place soon after infection,
within an average of 2 to 8 weeks, manifested by elevation of alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) in the blood.
Most people are unable to rid their bodies of the hepatitis C virus on
their own. In more than 80% of individuals with acute infection, the
disease progresses to a chronic condition. The likelihood of
progressing from acute to chronic is not influenced by either the
severity of the disease or the specific population group that is
affected. Hepatitis C is considered a chronic condition when the virus
remains in the blood for longer than 6 months, although tests may not
detect it at all times.
Chronic hepatitis C usually progresses at a very slow rate, often over
a period of 10 to 30 years. However, the longer the virus is in the
body, the more damage is done to the liver. Individual factors, such as
increased alcohol intake, age, and gender, can also influence the
progression of hepatitis C. If the disease remains untreated, serious
consequences-such as cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, or even
death-may occur.
Determine whether you are at risk for this serious infection by taking
our Self-Assessment. If you suspect you may be infected, talk to your
healthcare professional about getting tested.
Getting Treatment
If you think you may be at risk for hepatitis C, it is very important
that you visit your doctor as soon as possible to receive a proper
diagnosis and to learn about treatment options.
The goals of hepatitis C treatment are to clear the virus from the
blood and slow the progression of the disease. Even if the virus is not
cleared, treatment can help prevent further liver damage. A recent
study showed that one of the benefits associated with PEGASYS, is a
decrease in liver inflammation and/or scarring.
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