1. Viral hepatitis C (hepatitis C for short) is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV for short) that is extremely dangerous to health and life. Hepatitis C is preventable and treatable.
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus that is primarily transmitted through the bloodstream. The disease is often described as “silent” because of its slow progression and lack of obvious clinical symptoms. Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus can lead to chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the liver, and even cirrhosis and liver cancer, which can be extremely dangerous to the health and lives of patients. Huang Chenghui, Department of Infectious Diseases, Baoan District People’s Hospital
According to WHO statistics, the global infection rate is about 3%, with an estimated 170 million patients and 35,000 new cases of hepatitis C each year. China’s survey data show that the rate of hepatitis C antibody positivity is 3.2%, with about 40 million patients. Although the clinical manifestations of acute hepatitis C are mild, it is easy to develop into chronic, and about 50-80% of patients will develop chronic hepatitis or even cirrhosis and liver cancer, and it has been reported that 20 years after infection with hepatitis C, cirrhosis occurs at 10-15%.
Hepatitis C and hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis D and hepatitis E are all viral hepatitis, but the transmission route, course, treatment and preventive measures for these types of hepatitis are not the same.
Hepatitis C virus mainly invades the liver and can lead to chronic hepatitis, which in some patients can develop into cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma, which is extremely dangerous to the health and lives of patients.
Hepatitis C is preventable and can be cured with standard treatment.
The hepatitis C virus is weakly resistant in the in vitro environment. General chemical disinfectants (such as bleach) and boiling are able to kill the hepatitis C virus.
The hepatitis C virus differs from the hepatitis B virus in that the former is an RNA virus and the latter is a DNA virus. The genome of the RNA virus is prone to mutation, which poses a great difficulty in the development of a vaccine for hepatitis C. There is no effective vaccine available for hepatitis C prevention. Therefore, the prevention of the transmission route of hepatitis C is more important.
2, hepatitis C virus can be transmitted through blood, sexual contact and mother-to-child transmission.
Blood transmission is the most important way of transmission of hepatitis C, especially intravenous drug injection with shared needles.
The importation of blood or blood products contaminated with hepatitis C virus, the use of needles contaminated with hepatitis C virus and not strictly sterilized, as well as medical and cosmetic devices can lead to blood transmission.
Shared razors and toothbrushes, tattoos and ear piercings are potential modes of transmission via blood.
Unprotected sex with a person infected with hepatitis C virus can cause transmission. People who have multiple sexual partners are at greater risk for hepatitis C infection.
Pregnant women infected with the hepatitis C virus have about a 5-10% chance of transmitting the hepatitis C virus to their newborns during pregnancy and delivery.
3, daily life and work contact with hepatitis C patients will not be infected.
Daily life and work contacts such as handshakes, hugs, courtesy kisses, sharing of utensils and glasses, sharing of work tools, office supplies, money and other contacts without skin breakage or blood exposure will not transmit hepatitis C virus.
Coughing and sneezing do not transmit hepatitis C virus.
Mosquito bites will not transmit hepatitis C virus.
4. Hepatitis C can be prevented by taking active and effective measures to cut off the transmission route.
Refuse drugs and do not share needles to inject drugs intravenously.
Vigorously advocate blood donation and eliminate illegal blood collection and supply.
Avoid unnecessary injections, blood transfusions and use of blood products; going to regular medical and health institutions for injections, transfusions and use of blood products can greatly reduce the risk of contracting the hepatitis C virus.
Do not share needles or other tattooing or piercing tools with others; do not share personal items that may cause bleeding, such as razors and toothbrushes, with others.
Observe sexual ethics, maintain a single sexual partner, and use condoms correctly.
Women infected with hepatitis C virus should avoid pregnancy until they are cured; there is no evidence to confirm that breastfeeding can transmit hepatitis C, but avoid breastfeeding when there is a broken nipple.
Measures to prevent HIV can also be effective in preventing hepatitis C.
5. Hepatitis C has an insidious onset and the symptoms are not obvious. Early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment are the keys to prevention and treatment of hepatitis C.
The later the disease develops, the more difficult it is to cure, and the more dangerous it is to the health and life of the patient, often referred to as the “hidden killer”.
A small number of patients with hepatitis C have symptoms such as varying degrees of fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and discomfort or pain in the right upper abdomen, and some patients have low-grade fever, mild hepatomegaly or jaundice.
The presence or absence of symptoms in patients with hepatitis C or their severity is not directly proportional to the development of liver disease.
Since the symptoms of hepatitis C are not obvious and can easily be overlooked, early detection, diagnosis and treatment are necessary to maximize the cure rate and reduce the recurrence rate.
6.When the behavior of possible infection with hepatitis C virus or suspected infection with hepatitis C occurs, you should promptly consult a specialist and proactively seek testing.
Proactive consultation and testing can lead to early diagnosis and timely treatment of hepatitis C, so that the tested person (especially the infected person) can receive psychological support and prevention guidance.
People who share needles for intravenous drug use, people who have sex with multiple partners, people who have been exposed to blood contaminated with hepatitis C virus, children born to mothers infected with hepatitis C virus, and people who have had organ transplants and long-term hemodialysis should seek counseling and testing at a regular hospital if they suspect hepatitis C infection.
The main basis for confirming the diagnosis of hepatitis C is a positive serum RNA for hepatitis C virus or a positive core antigen for hepatitis C. Hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA for short) can be detected in peripheral blood 1-3 weeks after infection with the hepatitis C virus. If there is only a simple positive antibody to hepatitis C virus (excluding false negative HCV RNA), it means that the person was once infected with hepatitis C virus, but the body has cleared the hepatitis C virus, and only regular follow-up observation is needed.
In general, infectious disease hospitals, general hospitals specialist clinics and disease prevention and control institutions around the world can do hepatitis C testing.
7. Patients with hepatitis C should receive standardized antiviral treatment at a regular hospital to get the best results.
The goal of hepatitis C treatment is to completely remove or continuously suppress the hepatitis C virus from the patient’s body in order to improve or reduce liver damage, prevent the development of cirrhosis, liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma, and improve the patient’s quality of life.
The standard treatment commonly used at home and abroad is interferon combined with ribavirin antiviral therapy.
Patients with hepatitis C must go to a regular hospital and receive standardized treatment under the guidance of a specialist to achieve the best treatment results.
Patients with hepatitis C should avoid foods high in fat and sugar and avoid strenuous exercise.
Alcohol and drug use can exacerbate liver damage, thus accelerating the development of cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma, so hepatitis C patients should quit drinking and drug abuse.
8, the public should have a correct and scientific understanding of hepatitis C, understanding, caring and helping hepatitis C patients, prevention of hepatitis C is the common responsibility of the whole society.
Health education on hepatitis C prevention and treatment should be strengthened to raise the level of awareness of hepatitis C among the whole population and to curb the spread and transmission of hepatitis C.
Patients with hepatitis C are victims of the disease and deserve the understanding, care and assistance of the entire society.
The prevention and treatment of hepatitis C requires the active participation and support of all sectors of society, and prevention of hepatitis C is the common responsibility of the whole society. A social environment conducive to the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C should be formed to provide a solid guarantee for the health of our people, economic development and social stability.