The latest research has contributed to the creation of a drug that is effective in up to 95 percent of cases. This is certainly great news for people suffering from this type of jaundice. So far, various preparations have appeared on the market, but they often cause side effects. In addition, they gave only a relatively small, half chance of cure. The latest drug is therefore a breakthrough achievement in the treatment of this ailment and – what’s more – it is reimbursed by the National Health Fund.
In addition, this drug works much faster than its predecessors. Until now, patients using this type of preparations felt terrible – there was weight loss, anorexia, hair loss, etc. Hepatitis C is one of the most common diseases in Poland. The National Institute of Hygiene notes that 200 Poles have probably been infected so far, while the Ministry of Health gives the number of 300. The prevalence of the disease alone is estimated at 50 people.
Thanks to the new drug, the “silent killer” (as hepatitis C is referred to) may be completely eradicated in Poland, although the reimbursed preparations will go to a maximum of 4 people a year. Nevertheless, they will make it possible to cure many Poles, which has been a very difficult task so far. The effectiveness of the drug ranges from 90 to 100%, which is an impressive result.
Hepatitis C is a disease that for years, asymptomatically destroys the liver. That’s why it’s called the “silent killer.” In most cases, the virus is transmitted in hospitals, as a result of blood transfusions and operations. The virus can lead to cirrhosis and then liver cancer, so it is very dangerous for humans:
- It is very insidious and imperceptible in the first years – symptoms may be minimal, some patients do not notice any.
- During acute infection, the liver may become excessively enlarged, at other times jaundice develops.
- Chronic hepatitis C is followed by acute infection.
- Then there are symptoms such as: muscle pain, joint pain, weakness, sensory disturbances, itching of the skin, glomerulonephritis or arteritis may also occur.
Until now, there was no drug that would allow the complete elimination of the disease from the body. It is not often that a new preparation is described as a “new era” and “medical breakthrough” – this is how the drug for hepatitis C is described. We have a vaccine for type B, although it kills people all over the world, but you can somehow protect yourself from it. It was different with type C – you can’t get vaccinated against it. It is estimated that 160 million people around the world today live with chronic hepatitis C, and one in five people will develop cirrhosis within 20-30 years.