1. What is the hepatitis C virus?
Hepatitis C virus (HCV for short): is an RNA virus. It is currently divided into 6 genotypes and different subtypes. The prevalent hepatitis C virus in China is mainly type 1b, followed by type 1a. Hepatitis C virus is present in the liver cells and blood of infected individuals and replicates mainly in the liver cells. The hepatitis C virus induces an immune clearance response in the body, which causes damage to liver cells and induces liver inflammation, causing an increase in transaminases.
2. What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is short for viral hepatitis C. It is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus that leads to inflammation and necrosis of the liver and is extremely dangerous to a person’s health and life.
3. What is the progression of hepatitis C?
The initial stage of hepatitis C virus infection (2-12 weeks) is called the acute phase, and the infected person may have no obvious symptoms. Only a small number of people can clear the virus on their own and be cured, and most develop chronic hepatitis C (60%-85%).
Chronic hepatitis C refers to those who can still detect the hepatitis C virus more than six months after infection. Patients may have no obvious symptoms, but the virus continues to replicate in the liver cells, causing inflammation and necrosis of liver cells, which then progresses to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. After 20 years of infection, the probability of developing cirrhosis is 10%-15%. The probability of developing liver cancer after cirrhosis is 1-7% per year.
4. What are the ways the hepatitis C virus is transmitted?
The hepatitis C virus is mainly transmitted through blood, sexual transmission and mother-to-child transmission, with blood transmission being the main route of transmission.
5. How is the hepatitis C virus transmitted through blood?
Currently, it is mainly seen in people who inject drugs intravenously. Because intravenous drug users often share needles, it is very easy to infect each other. In some areas, 60-90% of hepatitis C virus transmission is due to intravenous drug use.
Hepatitis C virus can be contracted by importing blood or blood products contaminated with hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C virus can be contracted by using medical and cosmetic devices that are contaminated with hepatitis C virus and are not strictly sterilized.
Sharing razors and toothbrushes with others. Actions such as tattooing and ear piercing can cause bleeding and are potential ways to contract hepatitis C virus through blood.
6. Can a pregnant woman pass the hepatitis C virus to her child?
Hepatitis C can be transmitted from mother to child with a probability of transmission of about 5-10%. The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted to the newborn through the placenta or during delivery. Women infected with hepatitis C are advised to avoid pregnancy until they are cured. If hepatitis C infection is detected after pregnancy, avoid amniocentesis, minimize the time of delivery, ensure the integrity of the placenta, and reduce the exposure of the newborn to maternal blood to reduce mother-to-child transmission.
7.Does breastfeeding cause hepatitis C transmission?
There is no evidence to confirm that breastfeeding can transmit hepatitis C. However, breastfeeding should be avoided when the nipple is broken.
8.Does work and daily contact transmit hepatitis C?
Work and daily contact such as handshakes, hugs, ritual kissing, sharing of utensils and cups, sharing of labor tools, office supplies, money and other contact without skin breakage or blood exposure generally do not transmit hepatitis C virus.
9.Will eating with a person with hepatitis C spread hepatitis C?
No, because hepatitis C virus is not transmitted through the digestive tract.
10.What behaviors are likely to transmit hepatitis C?
Sharing syringes with others.
Having received blood transfusions, organ transplants, and other procedures.
Contact with blood contaminated with hepatitis C virus by the mouth, eyes, nasal mucosa or broken skin.
Using needles contaminated with the hepatitis C virus for puncture.
Receiving long-term hemodialysis.
Use of medical devices that have not been strictly sterilized for invasive operations, such as dental treatment and endoscopy.
Using instruments that are not strictly sterilized for tattooing and ear piercing, etc.
Sharing razors and toothbrushes with others.
Multiple sex partners and not using condoms.
Men who have sex with men and do not use condoms.
11.What can I do to prevent hepatitis C?
Refuse drugs and do not share needles to inject drugs.
Advocate blood donation and stop illegal blood collection and supply.
Avoid unnecessary injections, blood transfusions and use of blood products.
Do not share syringes, needles or other tattooing or piercing tools with others.
Do not share razors and toothbrushes with others.
Observe sexual ethics, maintain a single sexual partner, and use condoms correctly.
Women infected with hepatitis C virus should try to avoid pregnancy until they are cured.
12.What are the symptoms of hepatitis C?
Both acute and chronic hepatitis C patients have no obvious symptoms, and many can develop asymptomatically for several years, often being detected only by chance, such as during routine examinations and physical examinations, or during routine examinations before blood transfusions or surgery.
Patients with chronic hepatitis C sometimes experience varying degrees of fatigue, which in more severe cases can affect the patient’s work and daily life. There may also be an unsuitable heaviness in the right upper abdomen. Other symptoms can include nausea or joint pain, and jaundice rarely occurs. However, the presence or absence of symptoms or whether they are noticeable is not consistent with the degree of liver lesion.
13.When should I consider getting tested for hepatitis C?
Because the symptoms of hepatitis C are not obvious, the degree of liver lesion is not consistent with the symptoms, and by the time obvious symptoms appear, the disease has already progressed to an advanced stage, delaying treatment and affecting the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, you should consider going to the hospital for hepatitis C screening if you have
Have received a blood transfusion, organ transplant or other surgery.
Have shared syringes with others.
Have received hemodialysis for a long period of time.
Have had tattoos, ear piercings, etc. performed with instruments that have not been strictly sterilized.
Have used medical devices that have not been strictly sterilized for invasive procedures, such as dental treatment, endoscopy, etc.
Have had sexual intercourse with a person infected with hepatitis C virus and did not use a condom
Have had multiple sex partners or men who have sex with men and have not used condoms
A child born to a woman infected with hepatitis C virus before or during pregnancy.
14.What does the test for hepatitis C include?
Screening for hepatitis C is done primarily through blood tests, and commonly used tests include
Hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) test: It is one of the most basic tests and is often used as a screening test. A positive test result requires further testing for hepatitis C virus nucleic acid.
Hepatitis C virus nucleic acid (HCV RNA) test: This test not only tells whether the hepatitis C virus is present in the body, but also measures the level of the virus, which provides a basis for determining the disease and the effectiveness of treatment. A positive test will confirm the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. If the test is only positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies and negative for hepatitis C virus nucleic acid, it means that the person was previously infected with the hepatitis C virus and has now recovered.
Other auxiliary tests: serum transaminase, serum bilirubin, etc.
15.What should I do if I am tested for hepatitis C?
Once the diagnosis of hepatitis C is confirmed, you should immediately go to a regular hospital for treatment and listen to the guidance of a specialist for standardized treatment. Do not buy and take medicine on your own, or believe in false advertising.
16. Can hepatitis C be cured?
Most patients with hepatitis C can be cured with early treatment and standardized medication under the guidance of a professional physician at a regular medical institution.
17. What are the criteria for curing hepatitis C?
Patients are considered cured when their transaminases (liver function tests) return to normal and their blood nucleic acid (HCV-RNA) turns negative for more than 3 years.
18.What is the treatment plan for hepatitis C?
(1) At present, the effective treatment for hepatitis C in China is still interferon combined with ribavirin therapy, and the course of treatment is usually divided into 24 weeks and 48 weeks, or longer, depending on the different viral genotypes of the patients. (2) DDA drugs have been marketed in several countries and are very effective for hepatitis C treatment with few side effects, but are still in clinical trials in China and will soon be approved for clinical use. The goal of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C is to completely remove or continuously suppress the hepatitis C virus from the body, thereby improving or reducing liver damage, stopping progression to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer, and improving the patient’s quality of life.
19.What are the consequences if hepatitis C is not treated in time?
If left untreated, about 60-85% of people infected with hepatitis C virus will develop chronic hepatitis, which will lead to cirrhosis and possibly even liver cancer.
20.What should I pay attention to in the life of a hepatitis C patient?
Absolutely no alcohol should be consumed because alcohol will accelerate the development of cirrhosis and all kinds of alcoholic beverages, including beer, should be prohibited.
Apart from drugs for hepatitis C, you should try to reduce the burden on your liver by taking as few other drugs as possible.
Take proper rest and avoid heavy physical work.
Pay attention to nutrition, but food should be light and less greasy, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and increase soy-based foods appropriately.
Keep your mood relaxed and increase communication and exchange. Chat and communicate more with family and friends to reduce worries and depression.
Appropriately increase outdoor activities, breathe fresh air, and enhance physical and mental pleasure.
To regularly review, timely detection of asymptomatic hepatitis, timely standardized treatment, do not believe in false, exaggerated propaganda.
Communicate with your doctor in a timely manner when you experience discomfort or changes in your condition, and follow your doctor’s advice.
Consult a professional doctor before using liver/enzyme-lowering drugs or health products.