According to the World Health Organization, there are about 35,000 new cases of hepatitis C each year and about 180 million people have been infected with the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C can lead to chronic inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis of the liver, and some patients can develop cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Compared to hepatitis B, which is a household name, most people know little about hepatitis C, let alone that this killer can be cured. Sun Shengnan, deputy chief physician of the Department of Hepatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Sixth Municipal Hospital, invites you to learn about the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C.
1. How is hepatitis C transmitted?
Hepatitis C is transmitted in a similar way to hepatitis B and AIDS. Viral hepatitis C (hepatitis C) is a viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which is mainly transmitted through blood transfusion, acupuncture, drug use, etc.
1. Blood-borne transmission: the most important mode of transmission, among which unsafe injection is the main cause of hepatitis C transmission in mainland China, accounting for 30%-49% of the total number of infected people.
2. Mother-to-child transmission: The incidence of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C is 4%-7%, and the main routes are intrauterine infection (31%) and intrapartum infection (68%).
3. Sexual transmission: The infection rate of hepatitis C transmitted through sexual life between spouses is much lower than that of blood transmission, but the incidence of infection is increased by multiple sexual partners or men who have sex with men.
2. What behaviors increase the risk of blood transmission of hepatitis C?
1. Behaviors of daily living.
Tattoos, ear piercings, etc.: Hepatitis C virus may remain in tools that have not been properly sterilized and can be infected through broken areas.
Sharing personal items: For example, sharing razors, toothbrushes, etc., residual viruses can be infected through broken areas.
2. Medical acts.
Blood transfusions and blood products: In 1993, blood donors began to be screened for anti-HCV in mainland China, and patients who received blood transfusions or apheresis plasma transfusions before 1993 may be infected with hepatitis C.
Violations such as sharing syringes: The hepatitis C virus remains in syringes and is re-injected into the body to cause infection.
3. Hepatitis C is not usually transmitted through daily contact.
3. How to detect hepatitis C infection early?
Most people with hepatitis C have no obvious signs and symptoms, and early detection is the only way to detect hepatitis C.
Compared with hepatitis A, B and E, hepatitis C appears "unknown", after hepatitis C infection, most of the symptoms are mild, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, etc., a few have jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly and other symptoms, and some patients do not have any symptoms at all. Among the common physical examinations, pregnancy tests and other examinations in daily life, if there are only liver function tests or five tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C cannot be detected. Only the test items of "hepatitis C antibody" and "hepatitis C virus HCVRNA" are added to the checklist, so that it is called "silent killer".
About 30 percent of patients infected with hepatitis C have normal liver function tests on physical examination. Some patients only have high aminotransferases, but they are mistaken for fatigue, alcohol consumption, etc., delaying diagnosis and treatment. As a result, hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus is more likely to develop into chronic hepatitis, and public awareness of hepatitis C is low, so many patients have missed the best time for treatment when they visit the hospital.
4. What should I do if I accidentally get liver disease?
Unlike hepatitis B, which can only control the virus and is difficult to cure, hepatitis C can be cured as long as it is detected early, treated early, and used in a standardized manner. All HCVRNA-positive patients, regardless of whether they have abnormal liver function or cirrhosis, should receive antiviral therapy after specialist evaluation. However, remember to go to the infectious disease department of a regular specialized hospital or general hospital, and under the guidance of a doctor, more than 95% of hepatitis C patients can be completely cured.
The goal of prompt antiviral therapy is to eliminate the hepatitis C virus quickly and eliminate or mitigate the associated liver damage as soon as possible, thereby preventing the possibility of progression to cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer, and maximizing your health. A number of oral anti-hepatitis C drugs (DAAs) have been approved for marketing and are covered by medical insurance, which not only have proven efficacy, but also reduce side effects, and shorten the course of treatment to 12-24 weeks.
5. How to avoid infection and curb hepatitis C?
Advocate unpaid blood donation, and put an end to illegal blood collection and supply. Avoid unnecessary injections, blood transfusions, and the use of blood products. Do not use drugs, do not share syringes, needles or other tattooing and piercing tools with others, and do not share personal appliances such as razors and toothbrushes that may cause bleeding. Observe sexual morality, maintain a single sexual partner, and use condoms correctly. Women infected with the hepatitis C virus should try to avoid pregnancy until they are cured.
Author: Sun Shengnan
Source: Shenyang Sixth People's Hospital
Editor: Wang Shuangning
Proofreading: Xing Yuxin, Chen Zeming
Preliminary review: Liang Xuan
Review: Xu Jiang