What is hepatitis C? in what manner...

What is hepatitis C? in what manner is it spread?

Hepatitis C is a virus, called HCV for short. It is spread by means of coming in contact with the vital current of an infected person. Almost 2 percent of population in the United States have HCV infection.

HCV can cause scarring of the liver that is called cirrhosis (say: sir-oh-sis). Cirrhosis can cause liver failure and liver cancer.

What are the symptoms of HCV infection?

race are rarely sick when they first get by heart HCV. In fact, most family can have HCV in their relations for a long time and still be perceived well. They may have mild symptoms, as it was as feeling tired a hazard of the time. But equal if they still feel fine, the virus may be hurting their liver.

Can folks protect themselves from getting HCV?

Sometimes there is nothing you can do to cover yourself. For example, you might have the virus from a vital current transfusion that you got before 1992

However, if you do not already have HCV infection, the lock opener to protecting yourself is to avoid front to infected blood. Injection unsalable article users often get HCV infection. If you inject illegal or "street" put drugs intos get into a drug treatment program and make experiment of to stop. If you cannot stop, in no degree reuse or share needles, physic works, or the water for mixing your drugs

If you inject a medicine, like as insulin to treat diabetes, it is also important not to reuse or share those needles

Do not share toothbrushes, razors, and other personal items, because they might have another person's progeny on them, and that progeny might be infected.

It is possible to master HCV from a sexual partner, although this is rare. The simply way to protect yourself against any sexually transmitted disease (STD) is to not have sex at all. The nearest safest way is to have sex with single one uninfected partner, who single has sex with you. If you are having sex with more than the same person, using a latex condom correctly each time you have sex will help save you and your partners from HCV and other STDs

If you are a health care worker, always succeed safety rules. Handle needles and other sharp instruments in a safe way, and be permanent to get vaccinated for hepatitis B

Note that HCV cannot be spread in consequence of breastfeeding, sneezing, or coughing. There is no evidence that HCV can be spread by dint of sharing spoons, forks, or drinking glasses, or by the agency of sharing food or water.

to what extent is HCV infection treated?

HCV infection is treated with a combination of brace medicines (pegylated interferon and ribavirin). The treatment lasts 6 to 12 month depending in succession the kind of virus you have. This treatment therapys 50 to 80 percent of infected race Check with your doctor to behold if treatment might help you.

Where can I find more information about HCV?

Talk to your doctor. You can also contact single of these groups:

Hepatitis Foundation International Telephone: 1-800-891-0707 Web site: http://www.hepfi.org E-mail: hfi@comcast.net

American Liver Foundation Telephone: 1-800-GO-LIVER (1-800-465-4837) Web site: http://www.liverfoundation.org E-mail: info@liverfoundation.org

HepC Connection Telephone: 1-800-522-HEPC (1-800-522-4372) Web site: http://www.hepc-connection.org

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group