NEWS UPDATE:HEPATITIS-C

THE LIVER FUNCTIONS AND HEPATITIS

The liver is an important organ in our body and is essential for our healthy life. The liver has a major responsibility to do many protective jobs to keep our health normal.

The functions of the liver can be listed as follows:-

1.Production of Cholesterol 

2.Production of bile

3.Production and store of glucose

4.Removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood.

5.Producing blood plasma protein

6.Immune factors release. 

7.Storing Iron

8.Cleaning ammonia and other nitrogen products by converting them into Blood Urea Nitrogen

9. Processing drugs and poisons and convert them into easily removable forms from the body.

10.Removing the bacteria from the body

11.Removing bilirubin from the body

12.controlling blood clotting.

The liver may some times become inflamed due to infections, disease, or overuse of drugs like alcohol.

An inflamed condition of the liver is known as Hepatitis. There are three types infectious of Hepatitis are existing. They are A, B, and C.

The virus causing Hepatitis-C (HCV)is the least susceptible and can able to live for 21 days under normal conditions. This virus is present mostly as asymptomatic but under favorable conditions, it may become a fatal chronic disease.

The acute symptoms may show out within 15 days and last for 6 months of the exposure. As long as it is acute it may not be complicated but 75% to 80% of the infection becomes chronic and more fatal.
There are many sources of infections as follows,
1. Needles such as injection needles
2.Shaving razor
3. Any medical devices used for injection, implants or catheterization
4.Surgical knives
5.Health care worker handling needles
6.Transmission from mother to fetus during maternity periods
7.Sexual transmissions 
8.HIV infection sources
9.Toothbrushes
10.At the procedures of making tattoos or any other body piercing processes in facilities using poor hygienic materials.
The Centers for Diabetic Controls (CDC) has reported that there are high possibilities of spreading CDC by having many sexual partners and due to rough sexual procedures.
The CDC also reports that even though HCV is contagious it will not spread by the following ways,
1.Breast Feeding
2.Cough or sneeze
3.Hugging or Kissing
4.Food or Water.

Signs and Symptoms:-

A.Acute:-

1.Yellow skins and eyes.

2.Tiredness

3.Nausea

4.Fever

5.Muscle pain

B.Chronic:-

In addition to the acute symptoms, the following are the additional symptoms in chronic conditions,

1.Fever

2.Tiredness

3.Loss of appetite 

4.Vomiting

5.Weight loss

6.Stomach pain

7.Dark urine

8.Clay-colored stool

9.Easy bruises and bleeding

10.Itching skin

11.Collection of belly fluid

12.Swelling of the legs

13Cognitive defects such as confusions, slurred speech

14. The skin capillaries become a spider-like look.

It should be noted that the other forms of Hepatitis such as A and B may also show symptoms similar to the above and hence it should be confirmed by an expert.

Complications Of Hepatitis-C

1.Liver damage and failure

2.Liver Cirrhosis

3.Hepatic Cancer

3.Death

Treatments

Some people may have a natural power of clearing the virus from their blood without medication at the stage of acute and they are lucky to escape from the chronic complication of the disease. About 25% of the population do have this type of natural protection. But others should go treatments with medication as follows:-

Before starting the treatments they should test for the positive results for the infection

1.Ribavirin (Copegus),(Rebetol)

2.Daclatasvir(Daclinza)

3.Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir(Epclusa)

4.Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir(Harvoni)

5.Telaprevir(Incivek)

6.Interferon aphacon-1(Infergen)

7.Interferon-alpha-2b(Intron-A)and alpha-2a (Roferon)

8.Simeprevir(Olisio)

9.Pegylated Interferon(Pegasis)

10.Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b(Pegintron)

11.Sofosbuvir (sovaldi)

12.Ombitasvir, Paritaprevir, Ritonavir(Technivie)
13.Boceprevir (Victrelis)
14.Ombitasvir, Paritaprevir, and ritonavir tablets packed with Dasabuvir tablets (Viekira Pack)
15.Elbasvir, and Grazoprevir (Zepatier)
Any of the above packages are taken under strict doctor's supervision. A doctor can choose any one or more of the treatment according to the situation and the type of the case.
People should contact the doctor if they feel any of the Hepatitis symptoms or if they found they were subjected to contact with the virus.

Prevention 

The disease can be prevented by all of the following care-methods:-

1. Do not use any illicit injectable drugs

2. Take care when getting a tattoo or any other body piercings such earrings or nasal rings.

3. Practicing safe sex.