What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by a particular virus which is called the hepatitis C virus(HCV). The term hepatitis is derived from two Latin sections “hepat” which refers to the liver and “itis” meaning inflammation. The term “hepatitis” is not particular to a selective case by reactions to medications, toxic drugs. Poisons, alcohol, allergic responses, autoimmune disorders, and a variety of viruses. The most well-known virus that mainly causes hepatitis include:
- hepatitis A virus
- hepatitis B virus
- hepatitis C virus
Another hepatitis virus also exists and generates a small number of infections. Additionally, other viruses can cause hepatitis even though they are not particularly hepatitis viruses. These most usually include Epstein Barr Virus, the cause of mononucleosis, and cytomegalovirus, Which cause a type of illnesses in different parts of the body, notably in patients whose immune function reduced due to steroids, chemotherapy for cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
There are mainly two stages of hepatitis C. The acute phase happens soon after infection. Most people have no signs at this stage. Roughly 75%-85% of individuals affected go on to receive a chronic infection. At this second, chronic stage, there may be no signs of years or decades. Ultimately, if left untreated, most people with chronic hepatitis C will become symptomatic with advancing liver disease.
There are various subtypes of hepatitis C, called genotypes. These introduce genotype 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The variations between the genotype have a significant impact on how we treat HCV infection.
Causes of Hepatitis C
What causes Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C disease is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The infection develops when blood contaminated with the virus invades the bloodstream of an uninfected person. Globally, HCV exists in several different forms, known as genotypes. Seven different HCV genotypes and more than 67 subtypes have been known. The various common HCV genotype is type 1.
Although chronic hepatitis C develops a related course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations differ depending on viral genotype.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
What are the symptoms of Hepatitis C? Long-term infection including hepatitis C virus is known as chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C is normally a silent infection for many years, until the virus infects the liver enough to cause the sign and symptoms of liver disease.
Sign and symptoms involve:
- Bleeding easily
- Bruising easily
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.
- Dark-colored urine
- Swelling in your leg
- Weight loss
- Fluid build up in your abdomen
- Itchy skin
- Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech
- Spiderlike blood vessels on your skin
Every chronic hepatitis C infections occur with an acute phase. Acute hepatitis C normally goes undiagnosed because it rarely causes symptoms. When signs and symptoms are existing, they may resolve jaundice along with fatigue, nausea, fever, and muscle aches.
Treatment And Medication of Hepatitis C
If you have acute hepatitis C, there is no confirmed treatment. If your hepatitis C changes into a chronic hepatitis C infection, there are several medications available.
Interferon, peginterferon, and ribavirin managed to be the main treatments for hepatitis C. They can have side impacts like weakness, flu-like symptoms, anemia, skin rash, mild anxiety, depression, nausea as well as diarrhea.
You are more expected to get one of these medications:
- Daclatasvir- You will take this pill daily along with the sofosbuvir for at least 12 weeks.
- Elbasvir-grazoprevir- This once-daily pill has healed the disease in as many as 97% of those treated.
- Glecaprevir-This daily pill offers a more precise treatment cycle of 8 weeks for adult patients with all types of HCV who don’t have cirrhosis and who have not previously been treated. The treatment is more abundant for those who are in a different disease stage. The recommended dose for this medicine is 3 tables daily.
- Ledipasvir- This once-daily pill keeps the disease in most people in 8-12 weeks.
- Ombitasvir- This treatment is a combo of pills two that you will receive once a day, and one you will take twice among meals. You will use it for 12 to 24 weeks.
- Ombitasvir- You will take this tablet through the mouth, possibly along with ribavirin.
- Ribavirin- This appears as a tablet, capsule, or liquid. You get it with food twice a day, in the morning and evening for 24 to 48 weeks or more lasting.
- Sofosbuvir- This alliance is approved to treat adults with chronic HCV, either with no cirrhosis or with paid cirrhosis, who have already had several treatments.
