The date of the official birth of the hepatitis C virus can be considered 1989. Until that time, no specific diagnostic systems have been developed to identify it. Once in the human body, the hepatitis C virus, in simple terms, provokes an inflammatory process in the liver. Worldwide, infection with them is currently an extremely serious problem. To understand what methods and drugs are used to treat hepatitis C, you need to familiarize yourself with the problem in more detail.
Who's who
The causative agents of hepatitis types A and B were identified back in the 70s of the 20th century. However, after that, scientists began to assume that there are other types of this disease (“neither A, nor B”). An end to all doubts was put in 1989, when in the process of conducting numerous human blood tests, another specific viral agent was identified, which was given the name "hepatitis C virus". Immediately a lot of different questions arose about the danger of hepatitis C, how ittreat, what medicines to use.
The bulk of scientists and medical professionals agree with each other that this form of the disease is the most dangerous of all known. It is this form that is colloquially called the “gentle killer”, since the infection may not manifest itself for years, so to speak, behave “quieter than water, lower than grass”, and meanwhile intensively affect liver cells and provoke serious complications. A person at this time is not so much not interested in how hepatitis C is treated, but generally does not suspect the presence of such a dangerous disease.
Possible routes of infection
The mechanism of hepatitis C infection is parenteral, hematogenous (that is, infection occurs through the blood). This is possible in several situations. First, transfusion of donor blood to the recipient. According to statistics, up to 2% of donors worldwide are carriers of the virus. For this reason, before transfusing blood, it is examined for the presence of a pathogen in it (this is cheaper than treating a person later). And yet, about 4% of all infections occur during blood transfusions.
Secondly, the use of the same needle for medical procedures and injections by different people. Most of these cases of infection are among drug addicts and people receiving medication intravenously. What drugs are used to treat hepatitis C will be described below.
Thirdly, the likelihood of infection increases in those people who, on duty, have to come into contact with blood products (we are talking about medical staff).
Further, you can "get" the infection through sexual intercourse. The probability of getting infected within the family in relationships with a regular partner is negligible. However, with random contact, the risk of infection with the hepatitis C virus increases many times over, since its carriers are about 3% of homosexuals, about 6% of women of easy virtue and 4% of regular "clients" of a venereologist.
The virus is rarely transmitted from mother to child. Infection with breast milk during lactation does not occur at all, so there is no need for lactating women to be interested in the question of how hepatitis C is treated and whether it is dangerous for the baby.
Further, there is a high chance of getting infected while tattooing on the body or performing piercings, acupuncture, ear piercing with unstable needles. And about 40% of the sick do not know at all or do not remember what or who could become the source.
Symptomatics
Before considering how hepatitis C is treated, you need to understand when a person should start to worry, listen to their condition and see a doctor as soon as possible.
The main feature of the hepatitis C virus is its variability, ability and tendency to mutate. The disease can occur in two forms. If the virus replicates intensively, it imperceptibly damages liver cells, and the rate of this destructive process exceeds the liver's own ability to regenerate. In this case, the process of replacement of hepatocytes is observed(liver cells) scar (connective) tissue. In such a situation, the functions of the organ suffer. If the replication process is slow, the regenerative capacity of the liver repairs the damage.
Warning symptoms are not always present. During the incubation period (approximately 50 days), a person may feel normal and learn about infection quite by accident. However, there are non-specific symptoms of hepatitis, in the presence of which it is worth seeking medical advice. These include weakness, fatigue, asthenia (chronic fatigue syndrome).
Examination stages
As a rule, for the vast majority of patients, a positive reaction to the hepatitis C virus comes as a complete surprise. However, falling into despair and asking the sacramental question whether hepatitis C is treated at all is not worth it. The next step should be to undergo further examination. First, you need to re-do a blood test to make sure that the pathogen is present. If the reaction is still positive, the doctor will prescribe a number of additional procedures.
Ultrasound of the liver (ultrasound) will enable the doctor to thoroughly study the structure of the liver tissue and the state of neighboring organs. This procedure can be done repeatedly without any harm to he alth.
Fibroscanning of the liver or elastometry will assess the course of chronic processes in the liver and the effectiveness of the therapy (if italready underway).
The most important examination that will give the doctor maximum information about the state of the liver is a biopsy. The liver cells taken for analysis and evaluated under a microscope will allow the doctor to draw conclusions about whether the process is already chronic, whether a complication in the form of cirrhosis has developed by the time of the study. It is after this analysis that the doctor will decide on what method to treat this particular patient, with what drugs (hepatitis C is treated with the use of certain complexes of special medications).
The procedure for taking a biopsy is generally quite simple and does not pose any danger. A patient lying on his back is given local anesthesia in the upper right segment of the abdomen, a special needle is used to pierce the skin and take a small piece of liver tissue for research.
Standard treatment regimens
In order to determine the treatment regimen and a set of medications, their doses and the frequency of their intake, information about the genotype of the hepatitis C virus will be important for the doctor. 1 to 6. In turn, each genotype has subtypes / subtypes, which are indicated in Latin letters and are attached to the genotype number (1a, 3b, etc.).
The first and fourth genotypes are extremely rare in patients, but at the same time they are the most resistant (about twice as compared to others) to antiviral therapy, regardless of how hepatitis C is treated. Genotype 3, as, however, andall the rest are amenable to therapy using several methods approved by the entire world community.
The most economical regimen is to take any injectable interferon (no suppositories, capsules, drops, etc.) in a volume of 3 IU (million units). Frequency - at least every other day. Additionally, any ribavirin is prescribed for daily intake. The dose depends on the weight of the patient. With a body weight of up to 65 kg, you need to take at least 800 mg per day, with more weight - 1200 mg.
The most optimal regimen involves the introduction of interferon at a dose of 6 IU daily until ALT normalizes. Over the next 12 weeks, 6 IU, but every other day. Then 3 IU until the end of the course of therapy. Ribavirin - throughout treatment at the dose as above.
For those who are not financially constrained, there is no question at all of what is the most effective treatment for hepatitis C. Antiviral therapy drugs in this case are ribavirin and Peginterferon once a week.
As for the duration of therapy, the standard duration is 24 weeks at a dose of ribavirin 800 mg, regardless of weight. If genotyping reveals that the patient has genotype 1, the duration of treatment is doubled to 48 weeks, and ribavirin is prescribed (and taken) in full.
Foreign news
How is hepatitis C treated in Europe? In principle, interferon therapy is relevant throughout the world. However, the EU has approved a new combination of drugs for the treatment of type C. These drugs are called Viekirax and"Exviera". The release form of both medicines is tablets (i.e., there is no need for multiple injections of interferon). Viecarax contains ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir. The main active ingredient of Exvier is dasabuvir.
Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C genotype 1 approved with a new drug combination with or without ribavirin. These drugs will also be effective for patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, patients on replacement therapy, and those who have undergone liver transplantation. Clinical studies involving more than 2,300 people have shown that 95% of patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C are completely cured. In addition, the new regimen is well tolerated (98% of patients completed the full course of treatment).
Alternative treatments for hepatitis C: herbal medicine
Under the alternative methods of therapy for hepatitis C, various options for self-treatment are meant using a variety of roots, fruits and herbs, of which there are a great many. However, before you ask yourself how to treat hepatitis C with folk recipes, you still need to consult a phytotherapeutist, since many plants, their fruits, leaves and roots are toxic.
Patients consider the rhizomes of marsh calamus, from which the infusion is prepared, to be an effective remedy. 1 teaspoon of crushed root is poured into 1 cup of boiling water and allowed to infuse for 20 minutes. Take this infusion four times a day for half an hour before meals forhalf a cup.
The answer to the question of how to treat hepatitis C at home, many patients consider such a remedy as mummy. 4 grams of the substance is diluted in warm milk, grape juice and honey are added to it. This composition is taken twice a day before meals. After that, it is recommended to eat a raw homemade egg.
There are still a lot of different recipes and recommendations that will help, if not cope with hepatitis C, then at least improve your well-being.
Juices and hepatitis C
Another alternative answer to the question of how to treat hepatitis C at home is to drink juices.
Cabbage juice (a glass 2-3 times a day) or a mixture of cabbage and beet juice (the latter - no more than a quarter of a glass) will give a good effect. Important: after squeezing, the juice must be allowed to stand for at least 4-5 hours.
Further, it is said that positive results can be achieved by taking half a glass of freshly squeezed pumpkin juice daily. The condition of a person will also improve when taking a tincture of peanuts, jujube berries and sugar. Pour 50 g of each ingredient into boiling water (250 ml) and boil for 30 minutes, then cool. Recommended before bed for 30 days.
Another treatment for hepatitis C? Yes, simple dandelion. Someone makes jam from this flower, and someone is sure that an infusion from the roots will help him (crushed raw materials are poured with boiling water and infused for 40 minutes). Take this medicine before meals, 1 tablespoon.
Diet and lifestyle of the patienthepatitis C
Phytotherapy, fruits, juices and infusions from plants - that's all the answer to the question of how to treat hepatitis C at home? It turns out that it is fundamentally important to follow a certain diet. It is necessary to increase the share of fermented milk products, cereals and cereals in the general diet. We will have to reduce to a minimum the consumption of various types of smoked meats, chocolate, canned food and marinades, alcohol and fried foods. In addition, it is important not to overeat before bed and drink at least three liters of fluid throughout the day.
Medical experts agree with all these recommendations. Doctors assign a special role in the deterioration of he alth to alcohol. It is among lovers of alcoholic beverages that most often a complication develops in the form of cirrhosis of the liver. All that a patient can occasionally afford is a glass of wine or beer.
If cirrhosis is already confirmed, the doctor will likely recommend a low-s alt diet to minimize fluid retention.
As far as lifestyle is concerned, the probability of transmission of the hepatitis C virus is practically zero through ordinary household contacts. The main thing is to pay attention to cuts, burns and other damage to the skin, since infection occurs only through the blood. A very small risk exists with sexual intercourse. To avoid stressful conditions and unnecessary worries in such cases, doctors recommend using condoms.
Summing up
No one is safe from the "gentle killer". We all get sick, treat our teeth, do manicures and pedicures, go to public places with abrasions and cuts. In all of these situations, it is potentially possible to contract hepatitis C and not notice it (and not notice it for quite some time yet). If the disease is already a fait accompli, you do not need to independently seek out information about how and how hepatitis C is treated. The doctor selects the drugs and treatment regimen individually for each individual patient based on the results of a clinical examination. What is really important is to seek qualified help as soon as possible. After all, you can prevent an acute inflammatory process from transforming into a chronic one.
As for the treatment of hepatitis C at home, you can, of course, significantly improve your he alth with the help of herbs, tinctures from the leaves and roots of plants, fruit and fruit juices. However, no case of complete recovery with such treatment is known. And would scientists all over the world spend years of their lives, and corporations - billions of dollars on research and development of new drugs, if everything were so simple - drank the tincture for a month (or a year - the period is not important) - and got rid of the hepatitis C virus ?
