How is chronic viral hepatitis C
The results of these studies indicate that hepatitis C in the majority of cases, infected young people from certain risk factors. However, when considering the dynamics of changes, we can say that in recent years the age at which infection occurs increases. The same study suggests that more than 170 ml population on Earth is infected with a causative agent of the disease under consideration. Such a large number stems from the fact that the disease may become chronic and be in the inactive phase for many years. Every year 3-4 million people are infected before the disease. Note, however, that the degree of damage of the population is uneven, as it depends on living conditions. Treatment hepatitis C is quite complex. So it's easier not to be infected with the virus that causes the disease. Consider then, how is hepatitis C and what are the measures taken reduce the likelihood of infection.
Content
- One Under what conditions is the infection?
- Two How is the infection?
- Three If passed sexually?
- Four Can I transfer the virus during pregnancy?
- Five Transfer household method?
- Six What kind of people are at risk?
- Seven What tests are carried out?
- Eight Can we count on a positive result of the treatment?
- Nine Reinfection
Under what conditions is the infection?
To begin, consider where you're most likely there is an infection. Viral hepatitis is most commonly transmitted through blood and therefore the infection takes place when creating tattoos or body piercing. Note that professional salons follow the taken measures on conducting the above procedures, but still there are cases of infection. Quite high risk in the case of visits to places where people conduct group injectable drugs. The measures define what the prison patients with hepatitis are distributed in separate blocks, but it is likely that the test was not conducted and the person is unaware of latent infection.
Quite a lot of debate goes on about the fact that the infection of the medical personnel goes to work, that is in the clinic. Carelessness and failure to observe established rules of work with infected blood and can cause disease.
A few years ago, quite frequent were infected during blood transfusions. This was due to the use of inefficient method of inspection of the donor to detect hidden viruses. In recent times likewise the infection occurs only in 2% of cases.
In General we can say that from getting the virus in the body people who visit medical institutions, unprotected. This is due to the fact that the violation of sanitary norms and negligent attitude of many health workers to the tasks leads to infection. At the same time prove the source of infection is difficult, because the disease manifests itself through quite a long period of time.
How is the infection?
You should note that the main mechanism of transmission – infected blood. For many years in countries with poorly developed medicine infected patients was due to re-use equipment or disposable needles, instruments that were used when entering an infected patient. With the introduction of a sufficient number of infected blood into the body, the pathogen begins to develop actively.
Also the cause of infection and when performing tattooing or piercing the body with a needle for piercing. But there is a possibility and home intrusion. Many are unaware that hepatitis c can be transmitted by the bite.
Failure to observe hygienic measures in the dental office also becomes the reason of infection. Gums and mucosa of the oral cavity can be by penetration of the virus into the body when using non-sterile instruments.
If passed sexually?
Quite often a question can be called that, there is the risk of sexual transmission of the virus. The present study shows that the hepatitis C is rarely transmitted during unprotected sex – the probability is 3-5%. It is important to note that with increasing number of partners also increases the risk of infection. The probability of virus transmission during oral sex has not been determined.
Low probability of transmission is still there. Therefore, a partner was diagnosed of hepatitis C, I should warn you before intercourse necessary for the use of contraception. On external signs to determinewhether the person is a carrier of the pathogen threat is quite impossible. Even in the bright manifestation of symptoms of the chronic form is characterized by the fact that maybe there is a periodic improvement and deterioration of the patient.
Can I transfer the virus during pregnancy?
When planning pregnancy, as a rule, carried out a full examination to identify latent viruses and chronic diseases. It is worth considering that the transmission of HCV from mother to child occurs in 5% of cases. However, the pathogen does not affect the fetus during its development, as infection occurs during the passage of the baby through the birth canal. Modern medicine does not yet have effective methods to prevent infection of the child during the passage through the genital tract, and the hepatitis C treatment can drag on for years. Therefore, parents should be mentally prepared that the baby will be infected.
As the statistics shows, in most cases, children are born healthy. While effective treatments for newborns in case of infection yet have been developed.
Also it wasn't carried out effective studies to identify the risk of virus transmission from mother to child through the milk. Contraindications to breastfeeding relate to the case when the skin of the breast or nipple starts bleeding – it is in the blood contains a virus that gets into the digestive system of the child and cause infection.
Transfer household method?
Many people fear that the infection can pass household method or by airborne droplets. You should note that infection is not by shaking hands, sharing utensils, hugging, sneezing, eating one food. Hepatitis C virus is found only in the blood, it can be transmitted only when injected into the circulatory system. Through the mucous membranes, digestive and other systems, the transmission is not transmitted. In the case of feeding a child with the appearance of bleeding in the breast of the mother prohibited the feeding due to the fact that newborns are not formed immune system.
The above information determines that there is no need to isolate infected people from their families and others. Note, however, that in cases of men exempted from military service.
Usually, the infected does not inform others about it. However, everyone should understand that one should avoid explicit bleeding and getting infected blood on things of General use and others, as the probability of transmission of the virus is still there.
What kind of people are at risk?
Some features of the life people can lead to increased risk of infection. The medicine according to the degree of probability of infection distinguish 3 main groups.
The first group determines a high probability of infection. It includes the following persons:
- Inject drugs. Pay attention to the fact that the risk of infection increases not only due to reuse of needles and syringes, but also because of the damaging effects of drugs on the immune system.
- Received blood prior to 1987.
There are also intermediate probability of infection, which includes:
- Patients who are on apparatus, performing the function of the kidneys.
- Persons who transplanted organs or blood transfusion before 1992. While it is likely that the donor was set considering a diagnosis a few years after the transfusion was performed. While the exact period when there was an infection, install failed.
- Not detected or chronic liver disease also is a factor increasing the risk of infection.
- Newborn children born to mothers with diagnosed hepatitis C.
To the weak group of the increased risk can be attributed:
- Medical staff, especially one whose professional activity is connected with the study of blood samples.
- People who have several non-permanent sexual partners.
- People who have formed permanent sexual relations with an infected partner.
When injected into the first and second group should carry out blood tests periodically. It is recommended to conduct a study, even in the case where intravenous drug usage was carried out once a few months or years ago. Tests to identify the causative agent in all cases of HIV infection. The blood of children tested at the age of 12-18 months, if the mother is a carrier of the pathogen. Health staff are the study periodically.
What tests are carried out?
To determine infection in the body, the analysis aimed at identifying antibodies in the blood. However, such research provides only a positive or negative result cannot be used when assigning treatment. Some errors in the collection of the sample or the laboratory can result in false result. Therefore, when manifested symptomatology, or a person belongs to a risk group is assigned to more effective research,which is able to indicate not only the presence or absence of virus in the body, but also its concentration and other aspects.
Can we count on a positive result of the treatment?
The probability that ongoing treatment for the infection will lead to complete recovery in the use of modern methods of 10-20%. At the same time allocate the case when the infection occurs, the virus begins to actively proliferate in the body and be transmitted under certain circumstances, but the host organism is not harmful. In this case, only some studies of the liver allow us to establish the fact of infection. But the probability of the hidden progression is quite large.
The sooner you get established the fact of infection, the less the probability of transition of the disease into the chronic stage. The present study has shown that approximately 70% of cases the disease progresses to a chronic form. While in chronic hepatitis should receive continuous monitoring of your body condition, since the probability of activation of symptoms is very high.
Reinfection
In most cases the virus is transmitted in the case of the successful treatment becomes the reason of development of immunity, but this does not apply to hepatitis C. Even in the case of effective treatment of the disease, which did not go in the chronic form, there is a possibility of recurring disease, as immunity is not produced. While immediately after treatment the body most vulnerable to re-infection since the immune system is in a weakened state. So you should consider every precaution to rule out the possibility of re-infection.
In conclusion, hepatitis C may cause development of a fairly large number of complications. That is why treatment needs to be performed immediately after the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. There are medical centers that spetsializiruyutsya on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis. When contacting such a center can increase the likelihood of cure, but 100% chance no one will, because it depends on characteristics of the organism, the speed of propagation of the virus and other things.