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Signs, symptoms and genotypes of hepatitis C, causes of infection

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More than thirty years ago, infectious disease specialists used a single name for viral hepatitis of the people – Botkin's Disease, or jaundice. After typing virus, hepatitis, human began to designate letters of the Latin alphabet from "A" and then in order to F.


What is hepatitis C?

New, modern varieties of the virus denoted by the initials of the first patients GB, TTV. Scientists do not exclude the future discovery of forms of the virus of this group. We'll focus on the most common and dangerous form of hepatitis with letter "C".

Hepatitis C is a viral disease of humans, the pathogen belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Hepavirus, mean HCV (hepatitis C virus) or HCV (eng.). First identified in 1989.

In the electron microscope, this small, spherical, education, film coated. Genetic information is enclosed in a single gene that carries information about six of the eleven genotypes.

Features of the HCV virus:

  • Human infection HCV is predominantly parenterally (bypassing the digestive tract), after contact with the virus in the blood, then the liver parenchyma. The main route of infection is intravenous drug injections with a dirty needle, infection by the penetration of the virus through the mucous membranes during unprotected sexual contact.
  • Liver damage in HCV is accompanied by a concomitant internal diseases, various metabolic disorders, and immune system.

  • The characteristic high variability of immune receptors in the shell of the virus. The virus is easy to deceive the human immune system, regularly modificeres. In the result, the scientists periodically open new forms, types, subtypes of the virus.
  • The chance for a full recovery in the acute form of hepatitis a in approximately 15% patients, the rest goes into an asymptomatic chronic form, which ends with cirrhosis and sometimes liver cancer.

  • The development of pathogenesis according to the type of chronic disease – one of the characteristics of hepatitis C.Icteric staining of the skin patients may be absent or appear for a short time.
  • A small bonus. For this form of hepatitis is possible, but not common intrauterine infection (transmission of the virus from pregnant woman to her fetus).
  • Since 2004, hepatitis C is included in the list of socially important infectious diseases in the territory of the Russian Federation. The disease mainly refers to chronic infections (decreased disability of people of working age), difficult to control the spread, as there is no vaccine. Up to 90% of people who use injectable forms of the drug heroin number are carriers of the virus. Asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis C are the reservoir and vectors of the disease.

    A distinctive feature of chronic hepatitis that virus is in the human body in active or inactive state. In this state of activity repeatedly changing.

    The trick is that the antibodies in the blood (signs of virus) detected a virus in the blood (the causative agent), i.e. it is in dereplication phase and therefore not treatable.

    Confirmation of the disease and monitor the effectiveness of treatment carried out on the basis of complex diagnostics:

    • laboratory methods, including the determination of the concentration of the virus (RNA), the amount of specific antibodies;
    • instrumental methods of visualization of the liver, the puncture of the parenchyma of the organ and further laboratory examination to determine the nature of the damage to the liver cells.

    How long does the hepatitis C virus?

    The stability of the virus was verified in laboratory conditions. It has been empirically demonstrated that the virulence of the causative agent of hepatitis C is stored on different surfaces, including the syringe needle, more than four days at room temperature.

    Inactivated by boiling for two minutes. When heated to 600With loses its virulence for two minutes. Direct irradiation with light of ultraviolet light inactivates it within primerno10 minutes.

    Meanwhile, the likelihood of the virus into the bloodstream is quite high in various everyday situations or errors of the medical services (see below).

    How many people live with hepatitis C?

    After an average of ten to thirty years of chronic disease ends with severe, irreversible liver damage – cirrhosis. Since the main risk group is young people up to 30 years, the prospect of a fatal in 40-60 years and even before actual. This outcome expects approximately 20% of patients with this chronic form of viral hepatitis.

    From infected person reduced quality of life due to the damagefunctions of the liver. Reduces its important function is the detoxification of metabolites, especially after eating fatty foods, and alcohol. Potentially dangerous blood stasis due to the decrease in the filtration function of the liver.

    Possible premature death of a person affected by hepatitis C virus caused by indirect causes. One of the probable causes of death is the decline in functional competence of the liver, which pulls the train of pathology (dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and lungs).

    The final disease – cirrhosis of the liver manifests itself in total violation of the functions of the authority, zapotevanie small vessels and the formation of large paths of blood flow. Liver cirrhosis is an irreversible process, to cure it by modern methods is practically impossible. In the result, sealing of the parenchyma develop congestion in the abdominal cavity (ascites). Blood stasis is accompanied by the expansion of the arteries of the liver. It is a potential threat of rupture of the vessels and bleeding. In exceptional cases, develops liver cancer.


    The symptoms of hepatitis C

    Hepatitis A

    The disease retained the title of the infectious Disease. Common infection, is registered in approximately 40% of patients with hepatitis. Transmitted oral-fecal way, by eating infected food, water, accidental ingestion of other objects in the digestive tract. Very rarely possible parenteral route of infection.

    Characteristic symptoms:

    • Inflammatory, necrotic changes in the liver;
    • Increase body;
    • Yellowness (ikterichnost staining) of the skin;
    • Dark urine;
    • Pale stools (no pigment).

    For the stage of jaundice is characterized by the absence of contagiousness. For pathogenesis characterized by the acute course for up to three to four weeks.

    Read more: Hepatitis A - symptoms, causes of infection, prevention and treatment

    Hepatitis B

    Is designated as HBV or HBV English literature. The infection is parenteral. Pathogen found in urine, semen and in the allocation of female genital mutilation. Also like hepatitis C is characterized by a chronic course of the disease.

    The main difference from similar hepatitis C – high risk of intrauterine transmission of the pathogen from mother to fetus. Clinical signs resemble hepatitis C. Also characterized by a fluctuating course, and chronic form of the disease. Accompanied by cirrhosis, possible malignant transformation of epithelial liver cells.

    For hepatitis b was developed and implemented in routine practice vaccine that is also effective against hepatitis D. Newborns from infected with the hepatitis women necessarily vaccinated. The first dose in the delivery room, revaccination after a month and a year. A decision regarding further vaccination is taken by the doctors based on the results of laboratory diagnosis.

    Read more: Hepatitis B - symptoms symptoms, causes of infection, prevention and treatment

    Hepatitis D

    Is Delta infection hepatitis B. Only in the presence of the virus may develop D forms of the disease. Typical parenteral infection and chronic.

    Clinical signs resemble hepatitis B. Different severe course of the acute form of the disease. Often observe joint course with closely related To the causative agent.

    Prevention is based on the use of the hepatitis b vaccine and nonspecific methods. Treatment is similar to those in acute and chronic pathogenesis of other trust.

    Read more: Hepatitis D - symptoms, causes, treatment

    Hepatitis E

    Characterized by infection through the digestive tract, as well as an extremely acute course of the disease. Is characterized by severe course in pregnant women. The rest resembles the acute form of other hepatitis c oral-fecal by infection. In particular, similar to hepatitis A.

    Read more: Hepatitis E symptoms, causes, treatment

    Hepatitis G

    The separate existence of the virus being discussed is not universally accepted by researchers. Sometimes referred to by the first letters of the ill – GB. Often the discovery of G virus directly correlates with the discovery of hepatitis C. it is Characteristic of parenteral infection and chronic pathogenesis. The clinical picture resembles other forms of viral hepatitis with parenteral transmission. The pattern of disease similar to hepatitis C.

    Read more: Hepatitis G symptoms, causes, treatment


    Treatments

    Therapy of acute and chronic forms of hepatitis is the fundamental difference. Treatment of the acute form aims to eliminate the main symptoms, protect the liver from further damage, protection of the basic functions of the body.

    Assigned intravenous physiological solutions stimulating the elimination of toxins from the body, vitamins, inside appoint choleretic drugs.

    The peculiarity of the treatment of acute forms of hepatitis C – a mandatory appointment of immunomodulators. This measure is connected with the peculiarity of the agent. For other hepatitis correction of immunity in acute course of the disease is not advisable.

    Sometimes patients wonder about the lack of intensive therapy in acute forms of hepatitis. The fact that the extra drug load, except symptomatic treatment which is potentially harmful to a damaged liver.

    On topic: the list of the best hepatoprotectors to restore the liver

    In addition to the symptomatic treatment is important the proper diet.

    In acute liver damage prescribed dietary health food which is commonly referred to table No. 5, which includes:

    • Bakeryproducts (slightly dried);
    • Soups with vegetables, cereals, milk;
    • Meat lean varieties (beef, chicken, rabbit);
    • Fish low-fat varieties (cod, perch);
    • Dairy products (milk, cheese varieties, eggs, butter);
    • Drink (tea, juice, homemade juices, mineral water without gas);
    • Dessert (except for strawberry jam varieties, honey, candy, sugar, marshmallows, candy, fruit)
    • Fruits (green apples, persimmon, watermelon, bananas)

    Prohibited fried, smoked, marinated, fermented, carbonated, canned, and foods with salty, sour, sharp, pungent taste.

    Banned some popular products:

    • fruits, vegetables and berries (kiwi, melon, rosehips, strawberries);

    • the products (jelly, mushrooms in any form, melted cheese, sour cream, cream, milk).

    Read more: Diet in hepatitis C


    More important treatment of chronic hepatitis C. the Mandatory appointment of immunomodulators of different pharmacological groups:

    • interferons or stimulators of interferon (Roferon, Reaferon, intron A, other)
    • the markers of humoral or cellular immunity (tsikloferon, Amiksin, etc.);

    Periodically doctors perform a change of the correctors. During fever, shows the assignment of antipyretic medications or physical methods (wiping) of the regulation of body temperature.

    For chronic hepatitis C has a complex relationship with the immune system, prescribe antiviral drugs (Rimantadine, Ribavirin).

    On topic: is it Possible to completely cure hepatitis C?

    Diet with chronic hepatitis C are less strict. It is believed that the forbidden in the acute phase of the disease the products is limited to use maybe once a week.