Hepatitis C Patient Information
As a patient, there are some basic facts about hepatitis and your liver. Like the fact that you need a healthy liver to stay alive. The liver is what fights infections and helps in stopping bleeding. It also flushes out drugs and other toxins in your blood stream. Hepatitis C infection can result in liver damage and impaired liver function.
What are the causes of Hepatitis C virus?
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- Sharing drug needles - If you are health care worker, being pricked by a needle from an infected person.
- Having sex with an infected person
- Being born to a mother who has the virus.
- Sometimes a person may get the virus when getting a tattoo or piercing if the tools haven't been sterilized.
Hepatitis C Symptoms
Many people with Hepatitis C don't show any symptoms. But if they do, they often times feel like they have the flu. Symptoms like:
- Feeling tired
- Feeling sick to the stomach
- Running a fever
- No appetite
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Dark yellow urine
- Light colored stools
- Yellowish eyes and skin
Diagnosis and Treatment
Blood test will show if you have the virus and how serious it is. If the virus is bad enough then the doctor will order a biopsy to determine the extent of the damage and the appropriate treatments.
The virus is treated through a series of shots. The drugs used are Peginterferon and Ribavirin. If the condition is severe, you may need a liver transplant. This occurs if you have had the virus for years and didn't have it treated resulting in a severely damaged liver.
Prevention
Another important Hepatitis C Patient Information is knowing how you can protect yourself from getting the disease.
- If you use drugs, don't share.
- If you are a health care professional always use gloves especially if you have to touch blood.
- If you have several sexual partners use condoms.
- Don't use any-one's toothbrush or razor. These items may have blood on them and may infect you.
- If you decide to get a tattoo or piercing make sure that the tools are sterilized.
Dealing with Hepatitis C
If you do have Hepatitis C, you may have these feelings to cope with. Sad, scared, angry, disbelief, depression, crying frequently, lost interest in things you once enjoyed, guilty, helpless, worthless, suicidal, sleepiness, sleeplessness, always tired, problems with paying attention, aches and pain, irritated, restless, and are easily annoyed. If you do feel any of these symptoms tell your doctor.
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