Treatment
Not all people infected with HCV require or respond to treatment. Treatment is usually considered for people who have had elevated liver function tests for at least 3 months and also have liver inflammation or cirrhosis confirmed by a biopsy.
People who have little or no liver damage as confirmed by a liver biopsy may not develop severe liver damage. They may choose not to have treatment right away, and instead opt to have doctors monitor their condition with regular blood tests and a liver biopsy every three to five years.
Many factors need consideration when deciding on treatment. Your doctor will help you decide which and if treatment is right for you.
There are several treatment options for chronic hepatitis, including medications and liver transplant.
Since the introduction of new antiviral medications in 2013, the treatment of HCV infection has evolved. The cure rates of hepatitis C have increased significantly. Antiviral therapy may also help slow the progression of liver damage or reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
People with HCV need to get blood tests to guide medication therapy before starting treatment. Which therapy is used depends on the genetic type of HCV that is causing the infection. These types are referred to as genotypes. The most common genotypes are 1, 2, and 3. Depending on the type of HCV a person has, and the extent of liver damage, the length of treatment can vary.
The side effects of antiviral medications may include flu-like symptoms, anemia, fever, fatigue, headaches, weight loss, nausea, skin rashes, and muscle or bone pain.
If the liver is severely damaged due to hepatitis C, a liver transplant may be required.
If you have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, you can help prevent additional liver damage by not drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes or cigars. Some commonly used prescription and non-prescription medications as well as herbal products can also affect the liver and cause more damage. Talk to your doctor or health care professional about the safety of taking certain medications.
Prevention
At present, no vaccine exists to prevent infection with HCV. Therefore, it is important to avoid exposure to the virus. Use the following precautions to reduce your risk of infection:
- Do not share a toothbrush, razor, or anything else that might have blood on it with someone who has hepatitis C.
- Use latex condoms during sexual intercourse and reduce your number of sexual partners if you have more than one.
- If you work in a hospital or other health care facility, wear protective gloves and clothing when disposing of needles and other contaminated sharp objects.
- If you want to get a tattoo or have your body pierced, make sure the practitioner sterilizes the instruments and supplies.
- Avoid using illegal street drugs (including intranasal or "snorted" cocaine) or find a drug rehabilitation program. If you do inject drugs, do not share needles or other equipment (such as cotton, spoons, and water) with other users.
Call your doctor if you have symptoms of hepatitis, or if you think you may have been exposed to someone who has it.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2018. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Hepatitis-C
