As much as 80 percent people infected with HCV do not even know it. Do your research and don’t get sick

If the infection is left untreated, as you age, the likelihood of serious liver damage increases. The first is scarring or fibrosis of the liver tissue. About 20 percent of people with chronic hepatitis will develop cirrhosis (even after 20-30 years) and liver failure. This virus in the world is the cause of 70 percent. cases of chronic hepatitis. In patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, symptoms such as jaundice, skin damage, increased abdominal circumference or swelling of the feet may appear. The most dangerous complication of hepatitis C infection is primary liver cancer. Specialists recommend that people infected with HCV have an ultrasound of the liver every 24 weeks and be systematically monitored for hepatocellular carcinoma, because chronic HCV carriage increases the risk of developing the disease 100 times.

It is very common for an infection to be asymptomatic. The incubation period of the virus is up to 160 days. Often the only warning sign is a slight enlargement of the liver.

The HCV virus is an RNA virus from the Flaviviridae family. It has 6 genotypes, among which there are subtypes characterized by resistance to treatment. There are approx. 220–230 thousand people in Poland. infected with HCV. Many more people came into contact with him, luckily not everyone got infected. Unfortunately, as much as 80 percent. infected are unaware of the disease, because it is asymptomatic for a long time.

The blood of an infected person is the habitat of HCV, i.e. the hepatitis C virus. Therefore, to reduce the risk of infection with hepatitis C, hygiene should be followed, especially in situations where the skin is damaged, eg during piercing or tattooing. We absolutely should not agree to have a tattoo or piercing done, for example, if a needle or a machine were used. If there is a need to come into contact with blood or blood products of foreign people, wear gloves and be careful with sharp objects (such as needles and syringes), as there is a risk of small, invisible cuts or scratches on the skin. And the fact that open wounds should be protected is obvious.

Most infections with the hepatitis C virus usually occur in hospitals and laboratories, for example when blood is drawn. Most people are infected among drug addicts, and it often coexists with HIV infection. In hemodialysis patients, this percentage is 30–60%. Cases of infection should be reported to the local SANEPID station. Theoretically, but in practice, patients rarely report their carrier status.

Infection can occur not only in direct contact with blood, but also in the event of disruption of the skin and mucous membranes. It can happen during a procedure in a beauty salon, e.g. mesotherapy. Manicures and pedicures can also be dangerous if the tools are not sterilized. Especially if the beautician uses a steam sterilizer, because even a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius does not kill the HCV virus.

HCV infection in children is most often the result of infected blood transfusions. However, it is also possible to transmit the virus from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy and childbirth. And although antibodies to HCV have been found in the milk of lactating women, the frequency of transmission by this route is low.

The risk of contracting HCV from kissing and having sex is not great, but it does exist. The virus is found in saliva, vaginal discharge, and semen. It is easy to get infected during menstruation, if we have bleeding gums, a kiss can also be dangerous.

Genetic material of HCV RNA is detectable after 1-4 weeks after infection, and anti-HCV antibodies within 4-10 weeks. After three months, anti-HCV antibodies appear in 90 percent of patients. The viral genetic material enters the bloodstream in relapses, and therefore these tests should be repeated. So far, it is not possible to detect anti-HCV antibodies in the IgM class, which would allow the diagnosis of the acute phase of the disease. For this reason, it is often difficult to distinguish acute hepatitis C from chronic.

Until recently, interferon was fought in the fight against viral hepatitis. The therapy was not easy, it could last up to 72 weeks and it did not guarantee that the virus would be defeated. Fortunately, that has changed now. In patients with hepatitis C, new drugs are used, the so-called DAA (direct acting antiviral). These preparations attack the virus directly. According to specialists, they can completely overcome HCV, and shorten the treatment time to 8 or 24 weeks at the most.

Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine for hepatitis C. To find out about the infection, it is enough to do a blood test. Unfortunately, it is not constantly reimbursed, but it happens during various campaigns. Yes, I “am aware of HCV” with which the National Institute of Public Health starts at the turn of June and July 2016.

July 28 is World Hepatitis Day. On this occasion, the “Star of Hope” Foundation invites you to a free HCV test. Anyone willing will be able to come to the selected facility and take the test. During the test, two drops of blood are taken from the finger, the result will be obtained after 15-20 minutes. The full list of facilities where tests can be performed is available on the foundation’s website.