hepatitis c…

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digestive system, hepatitis c, digestive system organs, non-a, non-b hepatitis, hepatitis c, inflammation, the liver, infection, the hepatitis c virus, hepatitis c infection, hepatitis c virus, hcv, persons who at risk, hepatitis c, received a blood transfusion, prior to july 1992, received blood, blood products, solid organs, a donor who has hepatitis c, injected street drugs, shared a needle, someone who has hepatitis c, have been on long-term kidney dialysis, frequent workplace contact, blood, instance, a healthcare worker, sex, multiple partners, sex, a person who has hepatitis c, shared personal items, toothbrushes, razors, someone who has hepatitis c, were born to hepatitis c infected mother, prevalence of hepatitis c infection is approximately 4 million people, 1 in 70 to 100 people, hepatitis virus infections include hepatitis a, hepatitis b, infected, the hepatitis c, not have symptoms, hepatitis c, detected, blood tests, routine physical, medical procedure, infection has been present, many years, liver permanently scarred, a condition, cirrhosis, in many cases, no symptoms, the disease, cirrhosis has developed, following symptoms could occur, jaundice, abdominal pain, right upper abdomen, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, pale, clay-colored stools, dark urine, generalized itching, ascites, bleeding varices, dilated veins, in the esophagus, hepatitis virus serology, elisa assay to detect hepatitis c antibody, hepatitis c pcr test, elevated liver enzymes, liver biopsy shows chronic inflammation, hepatitis c genotype, six genotypes, present around the world, most americans have genotype 1 infection, has lower response rates to treatment, no cure, hepatitis c, patients, hepatitis c benefit from treatment, interferon alpha, of interferon alpha, ribavirin, interferon alpha is given by injection just under the skin, has a number of side effects, flu-like symptoms, headaches, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, depression, thinning of hair, interferon alpha, interfere, the production of white blood cells, platelets, ribavirin, capsule taken twice daily, major side effect is severe anemia, low red blood cells, ribavirin also causes, birth defects, women should therefore avoid pregnancy, 6 months following treatment, a version of interferon alpha, a longer half-life, pegylated interferon alpha, was introduced, longer half-life means the injections, taken weekly instead, the three times a week, standard interferon alpha, pegylated interferon alpha, ribavirin lead to a sustained response in approximately 50% of patients, a sustained response means that the patient remains free of hepatitis c virus 6 months after stopping therapy, 40% of patients, genotype 1 infection, respond, rest recommended, acute phase, most severe, all patients, hepatitis c, immunized against hepatitis a, b, hepatitis c should also be careful not to take vitamins, nutritional supplements, new over-the-counter medications, first discussing it, a doctor, hepatitis c should avoid any substances toxic, liver, hepatotoxic, alcohol, moderate amounts of alcohol speed up the progression, of hepatitis c, alcohol reduces the effectiveness of treatment, stress of illness, eased by joining a support group of persons who share common experiences, liver disease, resources, hepatitis c is one, the most common causes, chronic liver disease, at least 80% of patients, acute hepatitis c ultimately develop chronic liver infection, 20% to 30% develop cirrhosis, between 1%, 5% of patients, develop liver cancer, hepatitis c is now the number 1 cause, liver transplantation, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, symptoms of hepatitis develop, believe have been exposed, hepatitis c virus, avoid contact, blood, blood products whenever possible, health care workers should practice universal precautions, handling blood, bodily fluids, not inject drugs of abuse, not share needles, anyone, cautious, getting tattoos, body piercings, sexual transmission is low among stable, monogamous couples, a partner, screened, hepatitis c, partner is negative, current recommendations, to make no changes in sexual practices, individuals having sex outside of a monogamous relationship should practice safer sex behaviors to avoid hepatitis c, sexually transmitted diseases, hiv, hepatitis b, currently, no vaccine, hepatitis c.