Hepatitis C is one of the viral varieties of this disease. To conduct statistics on this virus began not so long ago, however, experts have already noted the increase in the number of cases. The main difficulty in identifying the infection is the non-obviousness of the symptoms, which are often written off for poisoning or simply fatigue. It is worth knowing about the possible signs of hepatitis C in men, if there is a suspicion that the infection has occurred.
- Than the disease is dangerous
- Signs of chronic hepatitis
- Signs of alcoholic hepatitis in men
- What tests should I take?
- Treatment
How is alcoholic hepatitis manifested - effective treatment methods Hepatitis C: Diet Hepatitis C: symptoms and proper treatment with folk remedies Hepatitis B: How is it transmitted? Get rid of hepatitis in the home
Than the disease is dangerous
Hepatitis C is a viral infection transmitted through the blood. In other biological fluids, its content is not large enough for infection. Therefore, it is possible to become infected with various cosmetic and medical procedures, at risk includes people who use drugs, who practice unprotected sex, and workers in medical institutions.
There is no vaccination against hepatitis C, so the probability of getting infected depends on the person's caution. The incubation period of the disease - from several weeks to six months, the rate of development of the virus depends on the state of human immunity. The weaker the resistance of the body, the sooner the disease will come.
If the disease does not begin to be treated on time, it can provoke the development of liver cirrhosis - a very dangerous condition for life and health. Treatment of hepatitis C should be strictly controlled by a doctor - a hepatologist, otherwise it will be unsuccessful and may even harm the patient.
Important!Contrary to common misconception, group C hepatitis is not transmitted in everyday life.
Signs of chronic hepatitis
Hepatitis C and other varieties of this disease often do not manifest themselves externally at the very beginning of the disease, signs at the initial stage, with acute form practically absent. Their manifestations depend on the level of immunity. The lower the immunity, the less noticeable the manifestations of the disease.
In rare cases, the body is able to overcome the virus at the acute stage of the disease, after which it goes away, but these cases are too rare to hope for such an outcome. More often the disease turns into a chronic form, which a person can not suspect for years, decades, before it is found.
Typically, a person with hepatitis C may notice the following symptoms, which are often often attributed to food poisoning and malaise:
- a feeling of heaviness, pain in the right upper quadrant, accompanied by nausea;
- constant weakness, tired feeling for no apparent reason;
- Sometimes there are pains, aches in the joints.
At the acute stage, these symptoms will be quite strong. Closer to the occurrence of cirrhosis may appear jaundice, yellowing of the skin and eyes. This symptom must be alerted, you should immediately consult a doctor.
To other external signs include a change in the color of urine and feces. Urine with different types of hepatitis can become darker, feces - lighter. In this case, there are symptoms of eating disorders, there may be a heaviness in the abdomen and increased gas production.
On the background of hepatitis, bacterial infections can occur, the most common are various infections of the respiratory tract, genitourinary system, peritonitis. Their occurrence can significantly worsen the course of the disease itself.
In any case, if there is a permanent discomfort from the gastrointestinal tract, you should consult a doctor and undergo a full examination. Similar symptoms can talk about other, no less serious diseases, in addition to hepatitis C.
Important!It is impossible to correctly diagnose without a complete examination. Sometimes tests for hepatitis should be retested several times, if there is the slightest chance of a false result.
Signs of alcoholic hepatitis in men
Alcoholic hepatitis is similar to the current with this disease group C. However, the alcohol form is not transmitted by the virus, alcoholic hepatitis is called a condition that develops as a result of long alcohol abuse at large dosages.
Symptoms of this form of the disease can be expressed more clearly in the acute progressive stage. It is not so common, but it is the most dangerous, because it leads very quickly to cirrhosis of the liver and, often, to death.
The main symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are acute signs of intoxication, the appearance of jaundice, which develop against the background of alcohol dependence. Dependence on alcoholic beverages is also one of the aspects of establishing the correct diagnosis, otherwise they are looking for another cause of degenerative changes in the liver.
It is worth noting that alcohol also becomes the most dangerous for group C hepatitis, immediately after the disease is detected, it is necessary to go to a medical diet and refrain from alcoholic beverages. Otherwise, the risk of developing cirrhosis and other complications increases significantly.
What tests should I take?
A correct diagnosis can be made only after a complete diagnosis. The main analysis, necessarily required for signs of hepatitis, is an enzyme immunoassay. It allows you to identify the virus itself and the extent of infection, is a person solely a carrier of the virus or is sick himself. This analysis does not apply to cheap, but it is extremely important in the detection of liver disease.
Also, the PCR analysis may be required, this kind of diagnostics makes it possible to identify the virus and its quantity in the body in the literal sense. The level of viral load allows you to predict the outcome of the disease in each individual case.
In addition to ELISA and PCR, ultrasound of the liver and other studies can be used to help determine the extent of the damage caused to the human body by the virus and its complications.
Treatment
Treatment of hepatitis C should be under the full control of a doctor - hepatologist, self-medication with this disease can lead to fatal consequences for the body and even to death.
For treatment, antiviral drugs are used, usually on the basis of alpha interferon and ribavirin, various drugs - hepatoprotectors, which help restore liver function. When a bacterial infection occurs, antibacterial drugs may be prescribed.
Also during therapy it is important to follow a diet with a limited amount of fat in order to relieve excessive load from the liver. If all the recommendations for treatment are observed, the prognosis is favorable, at the moment, 60 to 90 percent of all patients with hepatitis C get completely cured.
