Symptoms of Liver Problem – Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV)and generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses.About eight out of 10 people infected with HCV develop permanent (chronic) infection. It is estimated that anywhere between 1.5 to 3.5 per cent people in India are suffering from the disease.
Doctors say that Hepatitis C results in the death of liver cells. It is uncertain whether the virus kills the cells or if it is the immune system’s response to invasion by the virus. At present it is thought that it is probably a combination of the two, but that the immune system’s response is what causes the most damage. In most cases of HCV infection, the body’s immune system is not able to get rid of the virus by itself.
How Hepatitis C affects you
1. High Blood Sugar
Hepatitis C makes it hard for your body’s cells to take in sugar from the food you eat. And over the course of time, the body will stop responding to the insulin, leading it to diabetes 2.
2. Cancers
Hepatitis C, a virus that inflames the liver, is one of the main causes of primary liver cancer, or “hepatocellular” cancer.
3. Kidney Disease
People with hepatitis C are about 40% more likely to get the long-term kidney disease than those who are not infected.
4. Osteosclerosis
It is a type of bone disorder that causes bones in the body to become abnormally hard and dense.This painful but rare condition mostly affects your feet and legs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Liver diseaseare not easily recognizable, thus, most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) show no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until the liver damage shows up.
• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Yellow discoloration of eyes (jaundice)
• Dark-colored urine
• Itchy skin
• Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
• Swelling in your legs
• Weight loss
• Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
• Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas)
Acute hepatitis C infection doesn't always become chronic. In studies of people diagnosed with acute HCV, rates of spontaneous viral clearance have varied from 15% to 25%.
Causes
The HCV virus causes hepatitis C. The virus is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.
The nation's health protection agency,Centers for Disease Control have identified the factors that lead to the greatest risk of HCV exposure. These include:
• being born between 1945 and 1965
• receiving transfusions or organ transplants before 1992
• using or having used injectable drugs
• hemophilia
• long-term hemodialysis
• exposure to a needle stick, especially for those who work in healthcare sector
• HIV
• getting a tattoo in an unregulated setting
• risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected intercourse with an intravenous drug user
• being born to a mother having HCV infection
• being incarcerated
• a history of long-term daily alcohol use
• unexplained liver disease
• snorting drugs
It is important to know that HCV is not transmitted through casual contact, respiratory droplets, sharing food, kissing, or mosquito bites.
Prevention
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine discovered to prevent hepatitis C. To reduce your risk of getting hepatitis C, follow the below advices.
• Injection drug use is the most common way by which people get hepatitis C. Thus, avoid injecting drugs to reduce your risk. Avoid reusing and sharing.
• Avoid sharing the personal care items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers).
• If you are a health care or public safety worker, follow universal blood/body fluid precautions & safely handle needles.
• Consider the risks if you are thinking about tattooing, body piercing, or acupuncture to make sure the instruments are properly sterilized.
• If you’re having sex with more than one partner, use latex condoms correctly and every time, to prevent the spread of STDs, including hepatitis C.
Most local liver hospitals in India have a public health unit that can also supply information and advice.It is very important to get a full explanation of the condition from the best Gastro doctor.
Hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV)and generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses.About eight out of 10 people infected with HCV develop permanent (chronic) infection. It is estimated that anywhere between 1.5 to 3.5 per cent people in India are suffering from the disease.
Doctors say that Hepatitis C results in the death of liver cells. It is uncertain whether the virus kills the cells or if it is the immune system’s response to invasion by the virus. At present it is thought that it is probably a combination of the two, but that the immune system’s response is what causes the most damage. In most cases of HCV infection, the body’s immune system is not able to get rid of the virus by itself.
How Hepatitis C affects you
1. High Blood Sugar
Hepatitis C makes it hard for your body’s cells to take in sugar from the food you eat. And over the course of time, the body will stop responding to the insulin, leading it to diabetes 2.
2. Cancers
Hepatitis C, a virus that inflames the liver, is one of the main causes of primary liver cancer, or “hepatocellular” cancer.
3. Kidney Disease
People with hepatitis C are about 40% more likely to get the long-term kidney disease than those who are not infected.
4. Osteosclerosis
It is a type of bone disorder that causes bones in the body to become abnormally hard and dense.This painful but rare condition mostly affects your feet and legs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Liver diseaseare not easily recognizable, thus, most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) show no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until the liver damage shows up.
• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Yellow discoloration of eyes (jaundice)
• Dark-colored urine
• Itchy skin
• Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
• Swelling in your legs
• Weight loss
• Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
• Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin (spider angiomas)
Acute hepatitis C infection doesn't always become chronic. In studies of people diagnosed with acute HCV, rates of spontaneous viral clearance have varied from 15% to 25%.
Causes
The HCV virus causes hepatitis C. The virus is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.
The nation's health protection agency,Centers for Disease Control have identified the factors that lead to the greatest risk of HCV exposure. These include:
• being born between 1945 and 1965
• receiving transfusions or organ transplants before 1992
• using or having used injectable drugs
• hemophilia
• long-term hemodialysis
• exposure to a needle stick, especially for those who work in healthcare sector
• HIV
• getting a tattoo in an unregulated setting
• risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected intercourse with an intravenous drug user
• being born to a mother having HCV infection
• being incarcerated
• a history of long-term daily alcohol use
• unexplained liver disease
• snorting drugs
It is important to know that HCV is not transmitted through casual contact, respiratory droplets, sharing food, kissing, or mosquito bites.
Prevention
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine discovered to prevent hepatitis C. To reduce your risk of getting hepatitis C, follow the below advices.
• Injection drug use is the most common way by which people get hepatitis C. Thus, avoid injecting drugs to reduce your risk. Avoid reusing and sharing.
• Avoid sharing the personal care items that might have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers).
• If you are a health care or public safety worker, follow universal blood/body fluid precautions & safely handle needles.
• Consider the risks if you are thinking about tattooing, body piercing, or acupuncture to make sure the instruments are properly sterilized.
• If you’re having sex with more than one partner, use latex condoms correctly and every time, to prevent the spread of STDs, including hepatitis C.
Most local liver hospitals in India have a public health unit that can also supply information and advice.It is very important to get a full explanation of the condition from the best Gastro doctor.
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