Hepc Hepatitis C Is a Term Paper

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Thus, a diagnosis of Hepatitis C might not warrant any treatment intervention other than close monitoring of liver function. When the virus remains in the body, the disease progresses to its chronic phase. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "chronic HCV infection develops in 70% -- 85% of HCV-infected persons." Of chronically infected individuals, 60% -- 70% "have evidence of active liver disease," (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). About 17% of chronically infected individuals will develop cirrhosis and about 2% will develop liver cancer (United States Department of Veteran's Affairs).

Treating chronic Hepatitis C usually entails pharmaceutical intervention. A combination of two antiviral drugs, peginterferon and ribavirin, is currently the most effective treatment intervention. Other methods include administering long-acting (pegylated) interferon by itself; or administering a short-acting version of interferon with ribarvirin (United States Department of Veteran's Affairs). Using these two drugs, peginterferon and ribavirin, the treatment program usually lasts between 24 and 48 weeks (NDDIC). After one round of treatment, the doctor tests for HCV and if the virus is still present the second round of drugs is administered (Mayo Clinic). "The peginterferon is taken through weekly shots and ribavirin is taken daily by mouth," (NDDIC).

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The side-effects from the peginterferon program include flu-like symptoms and depression (Mayo Clinic). Some side-effects can be so serious that "treatment must be delayed or stopped in certain cases," (Mayo Clinic). Therefore, treatment of Hepatitis C is not taken lightly. If Hepatitis C has progressed to the point where the individual's liver is damaged beyond repair, a transplant may be necessary. Because the HCV usually remains active after the transplant, the recipient will still need to take antiviral medications (Mayo Clinic; NDDIC).

The pharmaceutical intervention can lead to a complete clearing of the virus. In the meantime, living with Hepatitis C requires lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol and medications that interfere with healthy liver functioning. Healthy diet and relaxation practices are also important to maintaining overall health once the diagnosis has been made. Risk factors for getting cirrhosis and other serious complications depend on lifestyle factors, especially alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption not only weakens the already compromised liver but also weakens the immune system (United States Department of Veteran's Affairs). Moreover, the consumption of alcohol can interfere with the antiviral medications used to treat HCV.

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