HEPATITIS C VIRUS
Hepatitis C Virus is an RNA virus belonging to the flavivirus family.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to a viral infection. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C Virus(HCV). The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, other viruses like Hepatitis A virus and Hepatitis B virus can also cause hepatitis.
STAGES OF HEPATITIS C
√ INCUBATION PERIOD:
This is the period between first exposure to the start of the disease, lasting from 14-80 days.
√ ACUTE HEPATITIS C:
This is a short term disease that last for the first 6months.
√ CHRONIC HEPATITIS C:
If your body doesn't clear the virus on its own after 6months, it becomes a long term infection and it is very deadly.
√ CIRRHOSIS:
This disease leads to inflammation that, overtime,replaces your healthy liver cells with scar tissue.
√ LIVER CANCER
SUBTYPES OF HEPATITIS C
There are multiple subtypes of Hepatitis C called genotypes. They include; genotypes 1a,1b,2,3,4,5 and 6.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
✓Acute Stage: Symptoms here are rare;
•Upper abdominal pain.
•Nausea and upset stomach.
•Dark urine
•Fatigue
•Jaundice
•Clay colored poop
•Joint pain
•Low grade fever
•Muscle aches
•Itching skin
✓Symptoms Of Chronic Stage:
•Weakness and fatigue
•Nausea
•Muscle and joint ache
•Weight loss
•Ascites
•Vomitting blood
•Weight loss
•Gall stones
•Confusion
•Edema
•Easy bruising and bleeding
•Edema
•Encephalopathy
RISK FACTORS
•Sharing injection drugs and needles
•Having sex
•Birth(Mother to child)
•Sharing personal care items e.g toothbrushes, razorblades, nail clippers
•Tattoo or piercing with infected equipment
•Received blood from infected donor
•HIV patients.
TESTS
There are different tests that can detect this virus;
✓Anti-HCV antibodies detection
✓HIV RNA
✓Liver function test.
TREATMENTS
Medications like;
•Daclatasvir
•Sotosbuvir-Velpatasvir
•Ribavirin
PREVENTION
✓Abstinence
✓Use a latex condom
✓Don't share personal items
✓Dont share needles
✓Be careful when getting body piercings, tattoos and manicure
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