Hepatitis C - the silent killer
Hepatitis C is a viral disease and is, spread mainly through blood. Hepatitis C virus causes at least 80 per cent of the, hepatitis cases arising from blood transfusions, plus many scattered cases of acute hepatitis.
It is most commonly, transmitted by injecting drug users who share needles. Hepatitis C virus is responsible for many cases of chronic hepatitis and some cases of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
For unknown reasons, people with alcoholic liver disease often have hepatitis C as well; the combination of diseases sometimes produces a greater loss of liver function than would result from either disease alone. A small proportion of healthy people appears to be chronic careers of hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C disease is more dangerous than Hepatitis B as there appear no sign symptoms of Hepatitis C infection immediately. In fact hepatitis C is somewhat unpredictable. The acute illness is usually mild and often without symptoms.
However, liver function may improve and then fluctuate repeatedly for several months or years. Hepatitis C has, at a least a 75 per cent chance of becoming chronic. About 20 per cent of affected people develop cirrhosis, and liver cancer may occur once cirrhosis has developed.
As told above, Hepatitis C is a dangerous disease, and hepatitis C virus is responsible for this disease. This virus dangers the liver cells sausing Inflamation which turns into liver cirrhosis within 10- 12 years. This may even lead to liver cancer.
It is also noted that in the primary stage of the disease usually there is no sign, symptoms. As such the patient does not even realise that he/she is suffering from hepatitis C infection.
When the disease progresses very far and when cirrhosis sets in only then the signs and symptoms become exposed.
The patient realises only than that he is suffering from hepatitis C caused liver disease, Liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer usually fatal. Hepatitis C is therefore, known as a silent Met.
The number of people affected with Hepatitis C so far in some countries including Bangladesh is as under.
India-30 million, Pakistan - 10.1 million, USA - 4 million, Egypt - 10.4 million
However, in Bangladesh incidence of hepatitis C is increasing alarmingly. The reasons for such spread is -
Though hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood transfusion, in many cases of blood transfusion proper test for the donors blood for hepatitis c is not done.
Using same razors, blades etc. for sharing for several persons, without proper sterilization may be another reason.
Using same needle on several persons for injecting drugs.
Lack of awareness
Absence of any vaccination against hepatitis C as yet.
Very rarely hepatitis C may be transmitted from infected mother to her foetus.
Very rarely it may be transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Diagnosis
Initially blood test may be done to identify the presence of Anti HCV in blood.
If hepatitis C is found positive in the initial test then HCV - RNA test should be done to determine the stage of inflamation and the condition of liver. In some cases liver biopsy is necessary.
Treatment
In people with progressive chronic hepatitis C infection, a combination of antiviral agent haderon-alphs plus ribavirin is most commonly used. This combination may stop the inflamation.
However, hepatitis tends to recur once treatment is stopped, and the over, all success rate is only about 3o to 4o per cent. Side effects are common.
Prevention
Illicit drug use and related high risk behaviour such as tattoos and body piercing should be avoided. Safe blood transfusion should be ensured. Taking injections by several people with a same needle must be prevented. Sharing several people with same unclean and unsterilised blade and razors should not be allowed lastly vigourus, awareness raising campaign should be undertaken.
