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Hepatitis C is a Viral Infection That is Little Talked About, But Can Be As Dangerous As Hepatitis B

Most people have head or what became in the 1980s and '90s the dreaded AIDS virus. With time and the availability of medicines, it ceased to be a killer. However, the knowledge of it helped stem its spread. Most people, unfortunately, don't realize that hepatitis C is also a killer, simply because not much has been said about it. In fact, it is also a virus, but is 10 times more infectious than HIV.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through the blood, and is usually passed on to women through infected needles and sex. At-home glucometers are often shared, or sometimes a woman's own lifestyle or her partner's lifestyle before marriage may put her at risk, because the virus can stay in the blood for years. It is also transmitted through blood products, like in the case of a transfusion, though in the case of pregnant women, this is not so common.

The dangers
The virus affects 1 in every 100 people in India, while globally 180 million are infected with it. Sometimes, it may just pass through the body, like many other viruses do, but sometimes, it can remain. If detected quickly, within six months or so, cure rates are high. the problem is that it is often not easy to detect, as symptoms resemble those of a regular seasonal viral infection: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite. If it remains in the body, becoming chronic, then it may progress to liver disease. But the hepatitis C virus (HCV) doesn't have to be a killer. You can conquer it with these moves. 

What you should do before
A number of couples who come to me have planned pregnancies-they opt for a baby, rather than the baby just 'happening' to them. This not only helps family planning, but it also helps us rule out infections or treat them if present. Usually, in the first trimester, your gynecologist will ask you to do a simple blood test for HIV, hepatitis B and C. In the case of a planned pregnancy, visit your doctor beforehand and ask if you need to take these tests before you conceive. However, there is no vaccine for HCV yet.

What you should do after
If a woman find out in the first trimester that she is hepatitis C positive, there's nothing much that can be done, as anti-viral medications cause birth defects, so a mother can only be put on them after delivery. She is advised to continue the pregnancy. A baby's chance of acquiring the infection in utero is between 5 and 7%. While this is not high, parents may like to avoid the risk. However, co-infection with HIV (if the mother is HIV positive) pushes the risk up to 19.4%. The pregnancy itself will not be hampered by the HCV infection. Nor does the risk of transmission to the child have anything to do with the mode of delivery-either vaginal or C-section. In India, there is little data on HCV transmission from mother to child. However, once the baby is born, the pediatrician may not do an immediate test to check for the virus, as it generally clears out from the baby's system in a year or so. Testing may only be done at 18 months.

Hepatitis C is a Viral Infection That is Little Talked About, But Can Be As Dangerous As Hepatitis B

Most people have head or what became in the 1980s and '90s the dreaded AIDS virus. With time and the availability of medicines, it ceased to be a killer. However, the knowledge of it helped stem its spread. Most people, unfortunately, don't realize that hepatitis C is also a killer, simply because not much has been said about it. In fact, it is also a virus, but is 10 times more infectious than HIV.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through the blood, and is usually passed on to women through infected needles and sex. At-home glucometers are often shared, or sometimes a woman's own lifestyle or her partner's lifestyle before marriage may put her at risk, because the virus can stay in the blood for years. It is also transmitted through blood products, like in the case of a transfusion, though in the case of pregnant women, this is not so common.

The dangers
The virus affects 1 in every 100 people in India, while globally 180 million are infected with it. Sometimes, it may just pass through the body, like many other viruses do, but sometimes, it can remain. If detected quickly, within six months or so, cure rates are high. the problem is that it is often not easy to detect, as symptoms resemble those of a regular seasonal viral infection: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite. If it remains in the body, becoming chronic, then it may progress to liver disease. But the hepatitis C virus (HCV) doesn't have to be a killer. You can conquer it with these moves. 

What you should do before
A number of couples who come to me have planned pregnancies-they opt for a baby, rather than the baby just 'happening' to them. This not only helps family planning, but it also helps us rule out infections or treat them if present. Usually, in the first trimester, your gynecologist will ask you to do a simple blood test for HIV, hepatitis B and C. In the case of a planned pregnancy, visit your doctor beforehand and ask if you need to take these tests before you conceive. However, there is no vaccine for HCV yet.

What you should do after
If a woman find out in the first trimester that she is hepatitis C positive, there's nothing much that can be done, as anti-viral medications cause birth defects, so a mother can only be put on them after delivery. She is advised to continue the pregnancy. A baby's chance of acquiring the infection in utero is between 5 and 7%. While this is not high, parents may like to avoid the risk. However, co-infection with HIV (if the mother is HIV positive) pushes the risk up to 19.4%. The pregnancy itself will not be hampered by the HCV infection. Nor does the risk of transmission to the child have anything to do with the mode of delivery-either vaginal or C-section. In India, there is little data on HCV transmission from mother to child. However, once the baby is born, the pediatrician may not do an immediate test to check for the virus, as it generally clears out from the baby's system in a year or so. Testing may only be done at 18 months.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood.

Signs and Symptoms :

• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Yellow discoloration of the skin and 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)
• Spider-like blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)

Causes :

• Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
• Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. The most common HCV genotype in North America and Europe is type 1. Type 2 also occurs in the United States and Europe, but is less common than type 1. Both type 1 and type 2 have also spread through much of the world, although other genotypes cause a majority of infections in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
• Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.

Diagnosis:

Screening for hepatitis C
If an initial blood test shows that you have hepatitis C, additional blood tests will:

1. Measure the quantity of the hepatitis C virus in your blood (viral load)
2. Identify the genotype of the virus
3. Doctors typically use one or more of the following tests to assess liver damage in chronic hepatitis C.
4. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).
5. Transient elastography.
6. Liver biopsy. 
7. Transient elastography

Prevention :

• Stop using illicit drugs, particularly if you inject them. If you use illicit drugs, seek help.
• Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing. If you choose to undergo piercing or tattooing, look for a reputable shop. Ask questions beforehand about how the equipment is cleaned. Make sure the employees use sterile needles. If employees won't answer your questions, look for another shop.
• Practice safer sex. Don't engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners or with any partner whose health status is uncertain. Sexual transmission between monogamous couples may occur, but the risk is low.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood.

Signs and Symptoms :

• Bleeding easily
• Bruising easily
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Yellow discoloration of the skin and 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)
• Spider-like blood vessels on your skin (spider angiomas)

Causes :

• Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus. The infection spreads when blood contaminated with the virus enters the bloodstream of an uninfected person.
• Globally, HCV exists in several distinct forms, known as genotypes. The most common HCV genotype in North America and Europe is type 1. Type 2 also occurs in the United States and Europe, but is less common than type 1. Both type 1 and type 2 have also spread through much of the world, although other genotypes cause a majority of infections in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
• Although chronic hepatitis C follows a similar course regardless of the genotype of the infecting virus, treatment recommendations vary depending on viral genotype.

Diagnosis:

Screening for hepatitis C
If an initial blood test shows that you have hepatitis C, additional blood tests will:

1. Measure the quantity of the hepatitis C virus in your blood (viral load)
2. Identify the genotype of the virus
3. Doctors typically use one or more of the following tests to assess liver damage in chronic hepatitis C.
4. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).
5. Transient elastography.
6. Liver biopsy. 
7. Transient elastography

Prevention :

• Stop using illicit drugs, particularly if you inject them. If you use illicit drugs, seek help.
• Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing. If you choose to undergo piercing or tattooing, look for a reputable shop. Ask questions beforehand about how the equipment is cleaned. Make sure the employees use sterile needles. If employees won't answer your questions, look for another shop.
• Practice safer sex. Don't engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners or with any partner whose health status is uncertain. Sexual transmission between monogamous couples may occur, but the risk is low.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B-

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Jaundice
• Itchy skin
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• Fever
• Joint pain

Causes of Hepatitis B-

• Sexual contact with an infected person
• Sharing of needles
• Sharing toothbrushes, razors with an infected person
• Accidental needle sticks
• Mother to child

Risk factors of Hepatitis B-

• Men who have sex with men
• A sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhea or Chlamydia
• Unprotected sex with someone who’s infected with HBV
• People who have multiple sex partners
• People infected with HIV

Complications of Hepatitis B-

• Liver cancer
• Liver failure
• Hepatitis D infection
• Kidney problems
• Scarring of the liver

Diagnosis of Hepatitis B-

There are a number of tests that can be used to diagnose hepatitis B infection:

• Hepatitis B surface antigen
• Hepatitis B surface antibody
• Hepatitis B core antibody
• Hepatitis B e antigen
• Liver enzyme tests (ALT and AST)
• A liver biopsy is also used to monitor liver damage in people with chronic hepatitis.

Precautions & Prevention of Hepatitis B-

• Use a new latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex
• Stop using illicit drugs
• Ask about the hepatitis B vaccine before you travel
• Be cautious about body piercing and tattooing
• Avoid alcohol as it is harmful to liver

Treatment of Hepatitis B

• Homeopathic Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Psychotherapy Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Surgical Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Hepatitis B
• Other Treatment of Hepatitis B

Homeopathic Treatment of Hepatitis B-

Homeopathy is strongly recommended in cases of hepatitis. Homeopathy is known to work to the immunological level, and has proven its efficacy in the treatment of a wide range of viral infections. Homeopathic treatment can also help in preventing and curing the complications of Hepatitis B. Some of the homeopathic medicines for treatment of Hepatitis B are:

• Lyco
• Nat s
• Card m
• Lach
• Phos

Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Hepatitis B-

Treating chronic or acute hepatitis with acupuncture is a long term process, especially if the condition has been present for many years. Acupuncture and herbs may be especially useful if Western drugs have not been able to reduce the viral load effectively. Acupuncturists usually diagnose hepatitis as Damp Heat in the Liver or Spleen.

Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Hepatitis B-

There are two categories of drugs used to treat chronic hepatitis B: nucleoside analogues and immunomodulators. The immunomodulators include interferon alfa and pegylated interferon. Interferon alfa was one of the first drugs approved to treat hepatitis B. It induces seroconversion from highly infective HBeAg to less infective anti-HBe status in 30 to 40 percent of patients. Lamivudine is the other mainstay of hepatitis B treatment. It helps suppress the replication of the virus and delay the progression of the disease.

Surgical Treatment of Hepatitis B-

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver. There is no surgical treatment for hepatitis B. If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option. During a liver transplant, the surgeon removes your damaged liver and replaces it with a healthy liver.

Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Hepatitis B-Eat a normal healthy and balanced diet