Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified in 1987, and it is now believed that almost 300 million people are infected. The first six months after infection are referred to as acute hepatitis. After that the disease is called chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis C treatment conventionally involved antiviral drugs like ribavarin, Pegasys and PEG-Intron. These often have quite bad, and physically demanding, side effects, especially difficult for some patients such as ex-drug and alcohol abusers, and some may favor homeopathic treatments.
Most cases of hepatitis are the result of viral infections. These include the Hepatitis viruses A-E. The C virus (HCV) was suspected since the middle part of the 1970s, but was not confirmed until 1987. It is currently estimated that there are 270-300 million worldwide cases of HCV infection.
HCV is transmitted by blood to blood contact. Blood transfusion, unsterilized needles and other medical equipment, blood contact (during sport) and sexual contact are all possible routes of infection. In developing countries medical procedures can be poor by Western standards, and many infections occur via unsterilized needle and blood products.
In the US, and other developed countries, good medical practice, and blood donor screening make transmission during medical procedures quite rare. However a great many people were infected before the virus was identified, and effectively screened for during blood donations.
In developed countries the common infection routes are via infected needles being shared by drug users, and non-sterilized equipment being used for tattoos and body piercings. Sexual contact is possible but fairly uncommon: normally it will only occur if there is also another STD present with open sores.
The acute phase of hepatitis occurs during the first 6 months. Often (60-70% of cases) there are no symptoms, and if there are symptoms they can be very mild and non-specific, making diagnosis in this phase very uncommon. If symptoms do occur in the acute phase they may be flu-like symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, decreased appetite etc. Other symptoms can include jaundice, itching and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis infections lasting over 6 months are called chronic hepatitis. Often there are no symptoms, and the disease is not uncovered until a routine medical check, such as might occur during pregnancy, or when applying to become a blood donor. Although symptomless, the disease is causing liver scarring, eventually leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis.
As the disease has only been known for twenty years, data about the long term prognosis is patchy. Some studies suggest that one third of untreated cases will progress to cirrhosis in 20 years, and a further third will progress by 30 years. Other estimates are rather lower than this.
The usual medical HCV treatment involves a course (up to 48 weeks, depending on HCV genotype) of antiviral drugs. This can be a very physically difficult treatment for some, especially for former alcohol and drug abusers. Some patients choose homeopathic remedies which have less side effects, and can show a reduction in the viral load.
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