Introduction
Hepatitis C is an infectious viral disease. It depicts itself in an individual through swelling of the liver. Although the disease is usually asymptomatic (do not show symptoms early enough), it is a dangerous infection and when not handled appropriately, it damages the liver greatly causing Cirrhosis. The virus is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. The disease is curable when noted during the early stages. Hepatitis C is an increasing public health concern and it has claimed many lives, young and aged (Preidt par 3). This piece of paper looks into the various issues that surround Hepatitis C.
Causes and Diagnosis and Risk Factors
The major cause of Hepatitis C is the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids and it could get into an individual through sexual intercourse or any other contact for instance injection.
Hepatitis C is diagnosed through blood tests. The blood test is capable of revealing the type of Hepatitis C an individual is suffering from, for instance, chronic Hepatitis C. In case chronic Hepatitis C is suspected, the doctor may undertake a liver biopsy to check the extent of liver damage. Other tests that could be done include EIA assay and Hepatitis C RNA to detect Hepatitis C antibody and virus levels respectively. Some of the risk factors include having been on long-term kidney dialysis, drug injections and sharing of needles, receiving blood or organs from an infected individual as well as being born to a Hepatitis C infected mother among others (Hepatitis Foundation International par 4).
Symptoms
Just like any other disease, Hepatitis C is characterized by some symptoms. They include swollen stomach and ankles, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), inability for blood to clot, fatigue, stomach upset, loss of appetite, breast enlargement in men, weight loss, dark yellow urine, diarrhea, light-colored stools, and easy bruising among others. It is however unfortunate that the symptoms may not appear until the liver gets damaged an issue that could take quite a long period of time (Hepatitis Foundation International par 6).
Treatment
There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C. However, it could be cured if noted early enough. It is nonetheless amazing that the infection is not treated unless it becomes chronic. Here, drugs that work through slowing or stopping the HCV from damaging the liver are used. A Combination of peginterferon and ribavirin drugs is used and work by attacking the virus. The treatment takes 24-48 weeks. In case of liver failure, a liver transplant is done. The medication provided could be associated with numerous side effects for instance nausea and vomiting, fever, and thinning of hair (E! Science News par. 2).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it is evident that Hepatitis C is a tragic infection and can easily lead to the death of an individual. This is especially due to the fact that the symptoms do not appear early enough and therefore it is difficult to take early treatment measures. It is therefore advisable that people take preventive measures for instance knowing the status of their sexual partners and avoiding blood and other body fluids contact. Vaccination for Hepatitis A and B is also recommended. Meanwhile, more accurate tests are being developed in an effort to detect even smaller amounts of the virus to avoid going to the chronic stage.
Works Cited
E! Science News. “New treatment therapy helps inhibit hepatitis C.”Latest Science News Articles. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. Web.
Hepatitis Foundation International. “Hepatitis Living and Learning Resources, Support and Answers.” Hepatitis Living and Learn Resources Web.
Preidt, Robert (Ed). Hepatitis Rates Soar among IV Drug Users, Study Finds. Healthy Day News.N.P. 2011. Web.