Symptoms and signs of hepatitis C

The source of the disease are patients with hepatitis C virus carriers. The infection transmitted through blood and blood components, the largest number of cases - addicts. You can become infected at the dentist, during tattooing, body piercing, during a manicure. To the virus during blood transfusions is almost impossible, as all donated blood is tested for hepatitis C and a Possible way of transmission from mother to fetus, and rarely through sexual intercourse.

The incubation period for hepatitis C is 2 weeks to 6 months, during this time the virus multiplies in the body. Often infected a long time there are no manifestations of the disease, they consider themselves healthy, but are a source of infection.

At the end of the incubation period, a period of clinical manifestations. The temperature rises, there is a General weakness, malaise, headache, irritability, joint pain and body aches. Occasionally, there are rashes on the body.

After 5-7 days the condition worsens, loss of appetite, urine becomes dark, discolored feces, pain and heaviness in the right hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting.

During the inspection there is a marked increase of the liver, increases blood levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes, markers of hepatitis C. in a few days, there is a yellowness of the skin and sclera, after this condition is somewhat improved.

Approximately 20% of patients recover 20% of them become carriers of the virus, the rest of the disease goes into the chronic form.

The chronic form of hepatitis is most dangerous. The most characteristic symptoms are fatigue, weakness, a person is unable to perform former physical activity, can be nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium.These symptoms are periodic in nature, so few people pay attention, tying them up with overwork, lack of sleep, etc.

Symptoms such as dark urine, yellowness of the skin, vascular spiders in the skin, enlarged liver, swelling in the legs, appear in the advanced stage of chronic hepatitis C. This form of hepatitis is dangerous because it often goes into cirrhosis and liver cancer. If hepatitis C is combined with other forms of hepatitis, it aggravates the disease and threatens death.

Treatment of hepatitis must be comprehensive. Assigned diet with the exception of sharp, fried, smoked dishes. It is necessary to completely exclude alcohol and canned foods. Applies support and detoxification therapy.

For the treatment of chronic hepatitis C antiviral drugs are assigned to the group of interferons. Also assigned hepatoprotectors (drugs, protect liver cells from damage). The duration of treatment is from six months to several years, depending on the severity of the disease. Complete cure of chronic hepatitis C does not occur. The goal of treatment is to prevent transition of hepatitis into cirrhosis.