Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that is spreading worldwide. Approximately 3% of the world population is the carrier of this infection. In 80% of cases, the disease becomes chronic and can cause serious liver damage such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Transmission of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted through blood. Thus, drug addicts are particularly vulnerable because using shared syringes and needles. There are also some specific professions exposed to this danger, which may come into contact with blood, such as laboratory assistants, nurses and doctors.

Rare, but possible, is the transmission from mother to child during birth. Especially when the concentration of virus in the mother's blood is very high. There is also the danger of sexual transmission, especially in high-risk sexual practices of injury.

In many cases of disease, mode of transmission can not be clearly established. Note: infection through dental treatments, surgery, blood transfusions or dialysis are almost excluded today - in terms of observance of correct procedures and controls.

The symptoms of hepatitis C.
The acute form: After an incubation period of 2-26 weeks appears flu-like symptoms such as headaches, limb and state of exhaustion. Many of those affected complain of loss of appetite, tenderness in the upper abdomen, aversion to certain foods. Bigger is seen staining the skin and eyes yellow, urine becomes darker and the seat fade. In 10-20% of cases of acute illness heals itself without treatment in 2-8 weeks, but in most cases, the immune system is not strong enough to fight the virus alone. When this virus in the body is older than 6 months, we are already talking of a chronic hepatitis C.
Form Chronic infection can go unnoticed and for ten years. Sufferers complain of symptoms such as fatigue, decreased energy, discomfort in the upper abdomen unclear. Few of them suffer from itching and joint pains. Of this group of people with chronic infection, one in five will develop cirrhosis, a condition which in turn can cause liver cancer.

Diagnosis of hepatitis C

Given that the symptoms are so different, hepatitis C infection is often discovered through blood tests that indicate abnormal liver enzymes. For further clarifications, to perform various checks:

Using ELISA is possible to establish this by detecting HCV antibodies 3 months after infection. But given that the antibodies found in the body after years or even decades to overcome the disease, this test is not a reliable indicator of this virus.
If that were spotted antibodies against hepatitis C diagnosis should be confirmed by the so-called PCR (quantitative determination of viral reverse transcriptase QRT-PCR). This allows for precisely this hepatitis C virus in the body. Using PCR is possible to detect HCV viremia before seroconversion immunological. Determination of viremia by PCR testing is useful both for diagnosis and for monitoring active infection treatment.
British researchers recently included in the basic algorithm of screening for acute infection with hepatitis C virus, HCV core antigen testing. Testing the viral antigen is less expensive than testing financial viremia by PCR and can be used in screening, where there is a suspicion of acute hepatitis C infection - in the case of exposure to risk factors, abnormal liver function or symptoms suggestive. If viral antigen testing is negative Probably the most it is not an acute hepatitis C virus If transaminases are elevated HCV core antigen is negative and could be indicated HCV RNA testing.
Another examination is the routine sonogram, which consists of an ultrasound control and provides first indications of liver damage.
Liver biopsy may be determined by the severity of the disease.

Hepatitis
If discovered in time, most cases of acute hepatitis can be treated with interferon-alfa is a glycoprotein made by the human body (protein-sugar compound) in the fight against foreign substances. For people suffering from chronic hepatitis C, interferon own production is not enough to successfully resist the virus. Thus, treatment with interferon supports the immune system.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C involves a combination therapy. Patient takes Ribavirin in combination with interferon alfa (antiviral drug) for several months. Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment is successful in 50-80% of cases. The patient may support treatment success through healthy behavior and avoiding certain harmful substances liver, such as alcohol and drugs. ( for more health tips visit http://health-tips.ca )

A new approach by vaccination and treatment
Given that not all patients respond positively to the combination treatment and side effects can not be overlooked, researchers are working on creating an effective vaccine. A team of Canadian scientists has announced a partial success. Thus, the researchers inserted a protein of the virus in so-called dendritic cells of mice. These cells are the key to the immune system which warns the intruder entering the body.

Thus, stimulating the immune system of mice before and provoking a reaction from specific protection.

Vaccinated animals coped much better with virus infection. Thus, the vaccine has been used not only as a preventive measure, but as immunotherapy, according to Canadian researchers.