Hepatitis C

Table of Content

Introduction4

Virology5

Characteristics of DNA5

Medical Description6

Types6

The Role Of The Liver6

Modes of contraction7

Hepatitis A7

Hepatitis B7

Hepatitis C8

Breastfeeding8

Paternal Transmission9

Transfusion9

Toxic Hepatitis11

Possible Complications11

Symptoms12

Typical symptoms of acute hepatitis12

Symptoms of Fulminant hepatitis13

Prevention13

Hepatitis A13

Hepatitis B13

Hepatitis C14

Basic Preventive Measures to Avoid Contracting Hepatitis14

Hepatitis A14

When traveling in areas of the world where infection with hepatitis A is prevalent14

Hygiene measures in case of contact with an infected person or if you are infected15

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C15

Vaccination15

Hygiene measures in case of contact with an infected person or if you yourself are infected16

Socio-Politico-Economic17

References18

Hepatitis C

Introduction

Hepatitis C presents as inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C may be acute or chronic and asymptomatic or symptomatic. HCV is spread through blood and blood products and has an incubation period of 14-180 days. Of the 6 HCV genotypes, Type 1 is the most common in the United States and the least likely to respond to treatment. Patients with acute hepatitis C present with jaundice and nonspecific symptoms, including abdominal pain, anorexia, and malaise. Most infected individuals develop chronic hepatitis C, which is typically asymptomatic for long periods, but over many years may lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and other serious complications, including Sjögren's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, type 2 (DM2), B-cell lymphoma, aplastic anemia, cryoglobulinemia, and cardiovascular compromise. Hepatitis C should be differentiated from hepatitis A, B, D, and E, drug- and alcohol-induced hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, mononucleosis, rubella, and Wilson's disease. Diagnostic tests include serologic assays for hepatitis C antibodies and molecular tests for viral nucleic acids. Liver biopsy may be indicated to assess the severity of liver damage.

Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Treatment of acute hepatitis C includes supportive care, avoidance of drugs metabolized by the liver, and use of interferon alpha-2b to decrease viral load in an effort to prevent chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C is generally treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin. Close monitoring of treatment efficacy and for adverse effects by regular laboratory and clinical evaluation is essential. Liver transplantation may be necessary in severe cases (e.g., in patients who have end-stage liver failure).

History

It is impossible to know with certainty the origins of hepatitis C, since there were no samples blood for testing for the virus with more than 50 years old. Without However, taking into account the nature of the evolution of all viruses, it is likely that the hepatitis C has existed for hundreds of thousands of years or more before progressing to the current strains. Some experts speculate that since HGV / GBV-C, a close relative of HCV, primates originated in the Old and New World, the beginning of HCV can be traced ago 35 million years. However, this is just speculation, and impossible to corroborate these theories in the present moment. Stronger the prediction that different subtypes of HCV emerged around 200 years ago and that the six major genotypes of HCV very probably had a common ancestor approximately 400 years ago.

Virology

Characteristics of DNA

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is ...