| Hepatitis C is a stealthy virus that mutates while | | | | autoimmune problems resulting from your body's |
| hiding in liver cells and other organ cells like the | | | | immune system attacking normal cells. |
| spleen and gall bladder. The fact that the viral cells | | | | Long term HCV infection may result in fibrosis or |
| "hide" makes it very difficult for the body's | | | | even cirrhosis of the liver. Fibrosis results from |
| immune system to eradicate it. Hepatitis C is a | | | | unchecked liver inflammation. As the HCV |
| slowly progressing disease sometimes taking | | | | infection progresses, the damage to the liver |
| many years until symptoms are noticeable. It is at | | | | results in scarring or hardening of the liver cells |
| this point that the virus has reached advanced | | | | (fibrosis). Long term fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis |
| chronic stage and becomes difficult to eradicate. | | | | which is when the scarring from fibrosis |
| Hepatitis C results in 8,000 to 10,000 deaths | | | | overtakes the normal liver cell structure causing |
| annually. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of | | | | deformity and loss of function in the liver. About |
| liver transplants in the U.S. | | | | 15%-20% of HCV patients end up with cirrhosis. |
| Hepatitis C infection is caused by blood contact | | | | A liver biopsy is currently the most accurate |
| with someone who has the virus infection himself. | | | | means of determining the amount of inflammation |
| The transmission of the virus can occur by illicit | | | | and fibrosis the liver has sustained. |
| drug use with needles, sharing toothbrushes or | | | | Hepatitis C progression in the body can take |
| razors with an infected person, by sexual means, | | | | several years or even decades to come to |
| by unsanitary tattooing or by exposure to blood | | | | chronic stage or to a stage where severe liver |
| at your workplace (like a hospital or blood bank). | | | | damage is evident. This period of time allows a |
| Some HCV infection may have been caused by | | | | person to determine how to properly treat the |
| receiving blood from a transfusion prior to 1992. | | | | disease and to decide on a course of disease |
| Hepatitis C is diagnosed via a blood test. Usually, | | | | management. Currently, the main treatment for |
| the first thing that is noticed is that the liver | | | | HCV infection to eradicate the virus is combo |
| enzyme levels for ALT and AST are elevated | | | | alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Sometimes a doctor |
| well above normal levels. Further investigation via | | | | may prescribe interferon alone. Interferon comes |
| HCV-RNA testing identifies whether the Hepatitis | | | | in standard form or in pegylated form. Standard |
| C virus is in your blood or not. Other tests for | | | | form interferon is administered 3 times per week, |
| HCV include qualitative viral load tests, which | | | | while the pegylated form is administered only |
| measure the RNA particles in your blood. If you | | | | once per week. Your body makes its own |
| are being treated for HCV, your doctor is | | | | interferon, which is a protein that fights viral |
| probably using either a HCV-RNA or viral load test | | | | infection and viral replication. |
| to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. | | | | Hepatitis C may often be managed by taking |
| The symptoms of Hepatitis C infection often do | | | | herbal and vitamin supplements that help your |
| not occur in a person until 20 years after he/she | | | | body fight infection and limit inflammation. These |
| had been infected. Since the HCV infects the liver | | | | supplements help your liver with the inflammation |
| and the liver is the organ in the body that makes | | | | and give it the nutrients it needs to regenerate |
| all the energy for our daily activities possible, liver | | | | healthy new cells. Your doctor can recommend |
| function deterioration often results in fatigue. | | | | alternative or adjunct solutions you may want to |
| Fatigue is the primary complaint or symptom of | | | | try. |
| HCV infection. Other more severe symptoms are | | | | Proper treatment of the disease, a healthy and |
| jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), bile retention | | | | active lifestyle, a good diet, abstinence from |
| (which can cause jaundice), portal vein | | | | alcohol and stress management are important |
| hypertension, skin rashes and itching, and | | | | factors in controlling Hepatitis C progression. |