The carriers are among us

Most infections with the hepatitis C virus usually occur in hospitals and laboratories, for example when taking blood. Most drug addicts are infected with HCV, which often coexists with HIV infection. In hemodialysis patients, HCV is as much as 30–60 percent. Cases of infection should be reported to the local Sanepid station. Theoretically. In practice, patients who know about their carrier rarely report it.

The blood of an infected person is the habitat of HCV, i.e. the hepatitis C virus. To reduce the risk of infection and contracting hepatitis C, hygiene should be observed, especially in situations where the skin is damaged, eg during piercing or tattooing. Let’s not agree to having a tattoo or piercing done if the needle or the machine were used. If we find ourselves in such a life situation that we are forced to come into contact with someone’s blood (e.g. when dressing a cut or wound), we should wear rubber gloves. We should also be careful with sharp objects used by someone (e.g. needles and syringes), because we may have small, invisible scratches on the skin, through which the virus can penetrate them.

The HCV virus (Hapatitis C Virus) from the Flaviviridae family is an RNA virus (mature virus particles contain ribonucleic acid as genetic material). It has 6 genotypes, among which there are subtypes characterized by resistance to treatment. In Poland, there are approx. 230 thousand. infected with HCV. Today, hepatitis C is one of the main epidemiological problems in our country (next to the superbug resistant to all antibiotics, found in hospitals). The disease does not give any symptoms for a long time and unfortunately only 20 percent of infected Poles know about 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. Only a sterilizer used in hospitals for disinfecting surgical instruments will effectively neutralize it.

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. Of course, also oral.

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.

If the infection is not treated, there is a risk of significant liver damage. It grows over the years. The first stage 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. The virus is responsible for 70 percent of chronic hepatitis cases worldwide. 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. Polish experts dealing with HCV research recommend that people infected with HCV should undergo ultrasound of the liver every six months and be systematically monitored for hepatocellular carcinoma, because chronic HCV carrier 100-fold increases the risk of developing the disease.

Is HCV curable? Not always. It is successful (even in 90% of cases), provided that the infection is detected at an early stage. If they are detected soon after infection, it is sufficient to take medications. These are already refunded. People with hepatitis C are given interferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b alone or in combination with ribavirin. The treatment is long-term: from several to several dozen weeks. Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine for hepatitis C.

The genetic material of the HCV RNA virus is detectable after 1 to 4 weeks after infection, and anti-HCV antibodies are detectable in the period from four to ten 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. On July 28, 2016, we can test for HCV in sixteen Polish cities for free. The list of laboratories that perform this test on that day for free is available on the website of the organizer of the Star of Hope Foundation: http://www.g Gwiazdanadziei.pl/461-sprawdz-czy-nie-masz-hcv