Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a virus that can damage the liver. About 2% of Americans are infected with HCV. Hepatitis C, the liver disease caused by HCV, is a common worldwide problem and leads to 12,000 deaths each year in the United States. You can be infected with the virus and not know you have it. Hepatitis C virus spreads by contact with blood from an infected individual. A simple blood test can show if you are infected with HCV. Since 1992, all blood donations have been tested for HCV. About three quarters of persons infected with HCV develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis. Fortunately, only about one quarter develop progressive, irreversible liver damage. In those cases, liver tissue is gradually destroyed over time and replaced with scar tissue (cirrhosis). In the presence of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer can occur.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
Exposure to infected blood
Illegal drug use (contaminated needles or other drug equipment)
Tattoos
Body piercing
Hepatitis A(usually from food or feces contaminated by infected individuals)
Hepatitis B(from infected blood, sexual contact, or mother-to-baby transmission)
Hepatitis D, E, and G(usually from infected blood or blood products)
Alcohol use should be completely stopped because it greatly increases the risk for cirrhosis
Interferon (stops the virus from making more copies of itself)
Ribavirin (an antiviral medication)
Liver transplantation (if the patient 's liver is no longer functioning adequately)
Elimination of HCV from the body is possible, but the side effects of treatment can be serious. Your doctor may suggest that mild cases of hepatitis C infection should be watched carefully and treatment started if the disease begins to progress. Medical research studies are ongoing to help answer questions about hepatitis C treatment. Transplantation of a new liver to replace the liver damaged by hepatitis C is an option for treatment of advanced cirrhosis or early liver cancer. Transplantation is limited by the number of organs available for donation. Liver transplantation is major surgery, and lifelong medications are required after the transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted liver.
Hepatitis Foundation International
800/891-0707
http://www.hepfi.org
American Liver Foundation
800/GO-LIVER (465-4837)
http://www.liverfoundation.org
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
800/891-5389
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
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Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2003;289(18):2450. doi:10.1001/jama.289.18.2350.
JAMA. 2003;289(18):2450. doi:10.1001/jama.289.18.2350.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a virus that can damage the liver. About 2% of Americans are infected with HCV. Hepatitis C, the liver disease caused by HCV, is a common worldwide problem and leads to 12,000 deaths each year in the United States. You can be infected with the virus and not know you have it. Hepatitis C virus spreads by contact with blood from an infected individual. A simple blood test can show if you are infected with HCV. Since 1992, all blood donations have been tested for HCV. About three quarters of persons infected with HCV develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis. Fortunately, only about one quarter develop progressive, irreversible liver damage. In those cases, liver tissue is gradually destroyed over time and replaced with scar tissue (cirrhosis). In the presence of cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer can occur.
RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS C INFECTION
OTHER TYPES OF HEPATITIS
TREATMENTS FOR HEPATITIS C INFECTIONESTING
Elimination of HCV from the body is possible, but the side effects of treatment can be serious. Your doctor may suggest that mild cases of hepatitis C infection should be watched carefully and treatment started if the disease begins to progress. Medical research studies are ongoing to help answer questions about hepatitis C treatment. Transplantation of a new liver to replace the liver damaged by hepatitis C is an option for treatment of advanced cirrhosis or early liver cancer. Transplantation is limited by the number of organs available for donation. Liver transplantation is major surgery, and lifelong medications are required after the transplant to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted liver.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.hepfi.org
http://www.liverfoundation.org
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm
<< Back to article index...
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PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.
PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.