One of the causes of cirrhosis or liver cancer patients… may come from infection with “Hepatitis C virus,” a dangerous virus for which there is currently no vaccine to prevent infection! Preparing to understand the risk factors and practices when infection occurs… is therefore considered important.
Hepatitis C virus… how is it transmitted?
- Receiving blood or blood components without screening for hepatitis C virus in the donor’s blood (mostly before 1990)
- Sharing needles, tattooing, ear piercing, permanent eyebrow tattooing by untrained individuals and using instruments that are not properly sterilized
- Injecting drugs through the skin
- Dialysis in patients with chronic kidney failure
- Transmission through sexual contact and from mother to infant, which is very rare and different from hepatitis B virus
How dangerous is hepatitis C virus?
More than 1 in 4 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection will develop cirrhosis about 20 years after infection. However, if the patient is male, regularly drinks alcohol, is obese, or is co-infected with hepatitis B virus, cirrhosis tends to develop faster. Once cirrhosis occurs, it leads to other complications such as ascites, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, muscle wasting, and liver cancer.
If you have chronic hepatitis C virus infection… you should do the following
If hepatitis C virus is detected, patients should pay attention to their diet, choose hygienic foods, avoid all types of alcoholic beverages, reduce intake of starches, sweets, and fatty foods as these cause fat accumulation in the liver, worsening inflammation. Herbal medicines and supplements should also be avoided.
Besides diet, patients should exercise regularly, get enough rest, visit the doctor regularly for blood tests and ultrasounds, and must never donate blood!
Besides diet, patients should exercise regularly, get enough rest, visit the doctor regularly for blood tests and ultrasounds, and must never donate blood!
Although chronic hepatitis C virus infection can cause cirrhosis and many complications, it can be cured if detected and treated early. This differs from hepatitis B virus, which has a very low chance of complete cure. The genotype of the virus also affects the duration of treatment and the chance of cure.
Dr. Pongpop Intraprasong
Gastroenterology Specialist
Gastrointestinal and Liver Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
Gastroenterology Specialist
Gastrointestinal and Liver Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
