Information about hepatitis C that will protect you from danger
Hepatitis C is a fairly common viral infection that affects the liver. The virus can live outside the human body. However, this requires certain conditions. As a result, infections are extremely rare in everyday life. Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with infected blood.
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Dangerous disease and its prevalence
Usually, after infection, the virus is felt as an acute outbreak. Typically, this occurs within the first six months after entry into the body. In 75-85% of people, acute hepatitis C develops into chronic hepatitis C.
If left untreated, it can lead to serious liver damage, including liver failure. In some cases, a liver transplant may be required. In the United States, hepatitis prevalence statistics are disappointing. Approximately 2. 7-3. 9 million people are carriers of this virus. In many cases, patients themselves are not aware of this. This virus is not as common in other countries. In Russia, for example, it is estimated that there will be more than 3. 5 million patients in 2019.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are slightly different diseases, each caused by a different virus. Hepatitis A is the most common type. The incubation period ranges from one week to 50 days. The onset of the disease is usually acute and similar to the flu. In most cases, the disease ends in recovery. Doctors usually give patients with hepatitis A special intravenous infusions to eliminate the virus”s effects on the liver.
Hepatitis B is transmitted from an infected mother to her child through sexual contact using unsterile syringes. The disease usually begins with a sudden increase in body temperature, nausea and severe weakness.
How does infection occur?
The hepatitis C virus can survive outside the human body for up to three weeks, but only at room temperature. Often the virus remains on household surfaces. For example, sinks, drawer handles. However, in most cases, transmission occurs through contact with infected blood. Dried blood is also contagious.
Other body fluids—urine, sweat, semen—are not dangerous enough to transmit infection. Regular contact with or living with someone who has hepatitis C does not pose a risk of transmitting the infection.
Healthcare facilities always take precautions to prevent virus transmission. In hospitals, clinics, and dental offices, staff must ensure that all surfaces and equipment are sterile at all times.
Transmission can occur when:
- Sharing syringes or needles.
- When infected blood enters another person”s body.
- Through injury caused by an infected object in a healthcare facility.
- From mother to child during pregnancy.
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Our comfortable people are always far apart. Sometimes we have to interact with very strange individuals. They have heard little about good manners.
Less common routes of infection include
The following populations are most at risk of contracting hepatitis:
- People who inject drugs.
- Blood donors and organ donors.
- Children whose mothers are infected with the virus.
- Healthcare workers who have suffered injuries from needles or other sharp objects.
- HIV infection.
If infection is suspected, a blood test should be done as soon as possible.
Myths about virus transmission
Contrary to popular belief, hepatitis C is not transmitted through
- Sneezing or coughing;
- Sharing food.
- Sharing food or drinks;
- Breastfeeding (unless the nipples are bleeding);
- Enveloping
- Kissing.
The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection, but can be transmitted through unprotected sex. However, there is a slightly increased risk of infection in gay men who have sexual contact with other men with genital or HIV-infected ulcers.
Dangers in beauty salons
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Visiting beauty salons is somewhat dangerous. Clients can sustain micro-injuries during the procedure. Salon owners typically claim to always sterilize their instruments. However, if a person injures themselves with tweezers, they can become infected. The hepatitis virus is not killed by water or disinfectants. All clients of beauty salons and tattoo parlors should ensure that their equipment is autoclaved. Files and PAMs should always be disposable.
Some doctors do not recommend visiting beauty salons for people with weakened immune systems. For example, after a long illness. However, this opinion has not yet been confirmed by scientific research.
In general, cosmetic procedures are recommended only in salons with a proven reputation.
Main symptoms
In most infections, especially in the early stages of the disease, the virus does not manifest itself in any way.
However, all these symptoms are specific. Therefore, sometimes a person may become infected but not seek medical attention due to lack of symptoms. Hepatitis C is often detected accidentally, for example, during preparation for hospitalization. The largest number of hepatitis patients belong to the age group of 35-50 years. It is important to remember that these are all adults. This is because over the years the disease can lead to liver development and cirrhosis.
Treatment
Treatment usually includes medications and lifestyle changes. In recent years, medicine has made great progress in terms of treating hepatitis. The drugs available today are much more effective and work better. They have fewer side effects. The disadvantage is that not all patients can do without an individual approach, since not all of them are effective.
Lifestyle changes can help people cope with the disease. Eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco will help keep your liver healthy.
There is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C because the virus is so diverse. However, there are vaccines against viruses A and B that are recommended for those suffering from hepatitis C. The vaccine is not available for hepatitis C, but for viruses A and B. This is necessary to prevent further damage to the body. Doctors and epidemiologists believe that there is no need to exclude people with hepatitis C from work or educational groups.
Prevention
Cuts and abrasions should be immediately covered with a band-aid — this is one of the best types of prevention. If an infected person cuts himself, items with blood should be disposed of.
The same syringe cannot be used more than once. In addition, syringes should be shared with other people.
Epidemiologists recommend using only personal manicure accessories and avoiding contact with the blood of strangers. The best way to prevent hepatitis is to avoid risky behavior and maintain good personal hygiene.
