Hepatitis C

527 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hepatitis c research paper

Introduction

For this essay, I will do research on Hepatitis C for recognition targeted

towards technical publications as JAMA, New England Journal Of Medicine etc.

Hepatitis C (HCV) causes inflammation of the liver and can cause liver damage

leading to cirrhosis. Occasionally, liver cancer may develop. First called non-A

non-B hepatitis, hepatitis C was discovered in the early 1970’s, but it wasn’t until

1989 that testing for specific antibodies to the virus began. Each year, 15,000

Americans contract hepatitis C, which is a more frequent cause of chronic liver

disease than hepatitis B. While at least half of the patients with acute hepatitis C

become chronic, some estimate the rate as high as 80%.

Who is at risk?

People at risk include anyone who has had a blood transfusion, health care

workers (which we intend to be in the near future), I.V.(intravenous)drug users,

and hemodialysis patients.

How is HCV transmitted?

The virus is found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. It may be

transmitted via transfusion, sex, sharing razors, needles, toothbrushes, nail files or

even a barber’s scissors. All people with HCV are potentially infectious. As many

as 3.5 million people are believed to be carriers which means that they have the

virus in their system and whether they have symptoms or not, they can infect

others. Unlike hepatitis A and B, previous infection does not produce immunity.

Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?

There is no vaccine for HCV and vaccines of other forms of hepatitis do not

provide immunity against hepatitis C.

What are the symptoms?

Most people infected with HCV do not have symptoms. Even if they have normal

liver function tests, they are called carriers. The virus is in their blood and can

cause damage to the liver. Carriers can transmit the virus to others. If symptoms

are present, they are usually mild and flu-like: nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite,

fever, headaches, and abdominal pain. Most do not have jaundice (yellowing of the

eyes), however, it can occur along with dark urine.

Is there a cure?

Few people are able to clear the virus from their blood, which is necessary, to be

completely recovered. Over half of the cases reported each year become chronic,

which means liver enzyme levels remain elevated for at least six months after the

acute infection.

What does chronic hepatitis mean?

Chronic HCV indicates a gradual progression of the disease over 10-40 years. A

Show More
Related

  • Hepatitis A Essay

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    A person infected with Hepatitis A will take weeks to months to recover. During recover an infected person will receive supportive care and therapy. A patient should remain on bed rest and receive well balanced nutrition. Patient should be restricted from school and or work until fever is reduced and jaundice diminishes. If patient is vomiting and or has diarrhea, they can be treated with antiemetic medications. Also, an adequate water intake is necessary. An infected person should avoid alcohol and limit consumption of drugs that are damaging to the liver, such as acetaminophen. Hospitalization is rare during the treatment of Hepatitis A. (Matheney, 2012; Gilroy,

    Read More

  • Overview of the Herpes Virus

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...nd make people aware that it is more common than people realize and that a rather large part of America has the illness, whether they know it or not. This paper also discussed how the virus, could target certain individuals more easily than others based on the genetic makeup of an individual and families.

    Read More

  • Comparing the AIDS Epidemic and The Plague

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    infected with the HIV virus that causes AIDS, and four million had developed the disease (Packer). It is estimated that by the year 2000 more than forty million people, ninety percent in developing countries will be infected (Packer).

    Read More

  • Plagues And Peoples Chapter Summary

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    Almost no one on Earth has any immunity at all to this virus, which makes ordinary vaccines useless against it. The sudden spread of the virus into Europe foreshadows an epidemic development that could be worldwide. Ultimately, there is no way to protect ourselves against epidemics. They will keep disappearing and coming back in new forms.

    Read More

  • Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

    1199 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hepatitis B could be could be a big problem for many people because it is so highly contagious, and because it is such a hardy virus that can survive for a long period of time. We know yet because of all the vaccines that are now available, people should take full advantage of these opportunities to protect themselves and health. In closure to the topic of Hepatitis B, I strongly feel that if people were more cautious about their own behavior, and the situations they are in this wouldn't be up for discussion in opinion. If everyone did their part by getting the vaccine, and by being more cautious in their everyday lives, then maybe we could virtually stop the spread of this harmful virus.

    Read More

  • What Is The Decameron And The Black Death

    881 Words  | 2 Pages

    been previously touched by an infected person, will transmit the disease to the healthy person who

    Read More

  • hepatitis

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    HAV is known to be an infectious disease that usually occurs in children and young adults .The disease is usually transmitted from person to person through contaminated food, liquids or oral fecal route. An example would be when someone is carrying the virus and doesn’t wash their hands after using the restroom and then puts food in their mouth. HAV is most common in developing countries because of the living conditions and inadequate water, poor sewage facilities and sanitary conditions. The highest HAV levels in the world are from India,” Earlier reports suggest that India is hyperendemic for HAV infection2,4-6 with very high infection rates,” (Sowmyanarayanan). Most HAV are without severe complications, “Virus HAV infection rarely causes fulminant hepatic failure in people…,” (Vento,p.1) . The symptoms for HAV are high fever, nausea, vomiting and jaundice...

    Read More

  • Blood Borne Pathogens and Disease Transmission

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    The signs and symptoms of blood borne pathogens vary based on the type of disease it is and the ability of a person’s immune system to fight it off. In most cases hepatitis B does not need to be treated and the body can fight it off on its own. However a long-term infection can develop in some people that can cause liver damage. There is a vaccination available to prevent acquiring the disease. The signs and symptoms for hepatitis C are usually mild. It can take two weeks to six months after contact before signs begin to show, or there may not be any symptoms at all. Hepatitis C typically becomes is a long-term infection and after many years will cause liver ...

    Read More

  • West Nile Virus Essay

    1782 Words  | 4 Pages

    however, inoculations of mice with the patient's serum resulted in the isolation of a virus

    Read More

  • Hepatitis B Essay

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hepatitis B is a DNA viral infection that causes damage and inflammation to the liver. It was first discovered in 1965 by Dr. Baruch Blumberg. The HBV virus is very contagious and is even thought to be the most serious form of viral hepatitis and the most common viral infection on Earth. “HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.” (Green, 2002, pg. 7) The virus can survive for about one week outside the body on a dry surface. According to Green (2002, pg. 7), “One in twenty Americans has been infected with the virus at some point in their lives.” Between the ages of 15-39 is when 75% of new HBV infections occur, according to Green (2002, pg.8).

    Read More

  • Hepatitis B Essay

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    Acute HBV infection is the most common type of infection in low endemic countries. The incubation period, from transmission to clearness, ranges from 40-180 days. The infection is either symptomatic or asymptomatic/ fulminant hepatitis. Children under the age of 5 years rarely experience symptomatic infection (10%), where’s about 30-40% infected adults and children above age 5 experience a symptomatic infection with yellowing of skin and teeth, vomiting, fatigue, laxity and abdominal pain [1].

    Read More

  • Hepatic Cirrhosis

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is hepatic cirrhosis? According to the medical dictionary hepatic cirrhosis is when scar tissue replaces the liver’s healthy tissue. This disease changes the structure of the liver and blood vessels that nurture it. It reduces the liver’s capability to produce proteins and process hormones, nutrients, medications, and poisons. Cirrhosis is an illness that gets worse over time and possibly can become life threatening. This serious illness is ranked as the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S. It is the third most common cause of death for adults between 45 and 65 years of age. It occurs in more than fifty percent of undernourished chronic alcoholics. Unfortunately it kills about 35,000 people per year. In other country’s such as Africa and Asia death from cirrhosis is usually caused by hepatitis B.

    Read More

  • HEPATITIS C

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a disease spreading out in the world called Hepatitis C. It affects the liver and may cause the liver to fail. This disease is caused by a virus called Hepatitis C virus which is also known as HCV. About 32,000 people are affected with this disease per year only in the United States area. Some It’s a disease with many symptoms and many causes. of these symptoms are easy bruising, upset stomach and fever. These are just some of the many symptoms that come from the virus. Hepatitis Cs nature of the causative agent is determined by many things. The biological data of this disease is filled so much information. It is estimated that over 180 million people have gotten Hepatitis C and it is growing.

    Read More

  • The Pathophysiology of Hepatitis B

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    HBV infection is complex and affects a large population worldwide. The discovery of the Australia antigen (HBsAg) in 1965 by Blumberg et al. (1965) set the stage for rapid progress in understanding and counteracting the disease (qtd in Zuckerman et al. 210). Liver function tests help in estimating the extent of damage caused to the liver during HBV infection. Diagnosis is done by detecting viral specific antigens in the serum. Both active and passive immunization options exist for disease prophylaxis. However, it is always best to practice caution over the parenteral, sexual and other routes of transmission of the disease for effective disease prevention and prophylaxis.

    Read More

  • HIV Speech

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    for which no cure has yet been created. It is important to know however, that methods are currently available which can prevent the transfer of this virus, and even slow down its malicious effects. before they become fatal. It is equally important to know how to avoid getting the virus and also the symptoms in case you might run across them. They are all a lot.

    Read More

More about Hepatitis C

Open Document