Meaning and Definition of Hepatitis C

Definition of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a form of hepatitis caused by the hepatitis c virus This disease can occur as an infection of few weeks which resolves without sequelae or as a chronic infection that will remain of life, this depends on several factors, especially the immunity who suffers from it. It is estimated that it affects over 150 million people worldwide, of which about 500 thousand die each year because of this.
Like Hepatitis B, the Hepatitis C acquired through contact with blood, vaginal secretions or semen from an infected person, for such reason is transmitted by sexual contact, transfusions with contaminated blood, by the use of contaminated medical or surgical especially used in procedures such as tattoos or share pass for intravenous drug users. Often occurs the infection by Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C simultaneously.
Hepatitis C being acquired causes discomfort and fatigue, pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, malaise, pain joint and fever in a large number of cases the infected person does not develop any symptoms being free of this virus in about six months approximately.
Another form of this disease is chronic hepatitis which is developed by 7 to 8 people for every 10 that they come into contact with the virus, it happens inflammation and severe destruction of liver cells unless the patient experience symptoms until it has already occurred a lesion as liver cirrhosis. For this reason in the presence of risk factors, it is necessary to investigate whether happened infection by the hepatitis C virus, so studies of the type called serology, blood tests are requested if they are positive it is necessary to do a series of tests that allow you to set the degree of involvement that has produced disease.
A large number of people who develop the acute form of the disease are cured spontaneously without treatment. Patients with chronic infection can be treated with antiviral medications, these are drugs used delicate which are managed and supervised by doctors infectiologists.
The development of chronic infection with the hepatitis c virus can cause the appearance of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, these lesions may occur 20 years occurred after the injury.
Currently there is with a vaccine that can prevent this disease by what measures to be implemented are based on prevention. In the case of acquiring the disease a measure to suspend consumption of alcohol since this habit favors the development of lesions as liver cirrhosis.