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Name
Tomasz
- United States
Profession
Unemployed
Question
As-Salamu 'Alaykum:
I have heard of Natural or herbal remedies for this type of disease, namely Jaundice. Would they be useful in treating Hepatitis?
Answer
Many herbals have been tried in the treatment of Hepatitis, but none have been approved so far. As we all know Hepatitis A and E resolve on their own. Hepatitis B, C and D have internationally approved treatment regimens.
Name
Shaharyar Anjum
-
Profession
Question
My grandmother has been recently diagnosed with hepatitis-c and she, thankfully, is not in the chronic stage. So I asking if there is any available cure, or any treatment for this to atleast prevent the disease from becoming chronic and causing serious liver damage? Thankyou for taking the time and reading my email.
Answer
How old is she? How do you know it is not chronic?
Chronic infection means she has had it for more than 6 months. If it is acute, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies are usually negative and it can only be diagnosed by HCV RNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Therefore, I believe she is chronically infected but has not progressed to liver cirrhosis. If she is older than 60 years and not cirrhotic till now, there is not much fear that she will have complications. However, you have to tell me the age, the ultrasonography report and liver enzymes (transaminases) levels to be sure.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Could you give us a brief description of what Hepatitis C is?
Answer
Hepatitis C is a protein made of RNA. It has 6 major genotypes with more than 50 subtypes and is distributed all over the world.
It is a slow virus, 50-85% of acute cases progress to chronic cases, but only 20-30% of these progress to liver cirrhosis and its complications, namely liver cell failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, over a period of 15-20 years.
This virus is transmitted mainly by blood and blood products; blood transfusion, blood product transfusion, IV drug abusers, hemodialysis patients, infeced surgical instruments..etc.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Is there a vaccine for the prevention of HCV infection?
Answer
Unfortunately, up until now, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. This is because the virus is highly changeable, so it is capable of escaping the immune system of the body.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Who should get tested for hepatitis C?
Answer
Those who are more susceptible to becoming infected are the ones who should be tested, such as health care providers (hospitals, laboratory workers, doctors, nurses..etc), those who repeatedly receive transfusions of blood and blood products, drug abusers, those who had gone for tattooing, those who have multiple sexual relations, those who underwent previous surgeries as well as HIV patients.
However, in some countries like Egypt, the prevalence is very high so screening may include most of the community.
Name
Muhammed
-
Profession
Question
What do you use to remove HCV from environmental surfaces?
Answer
If you mean for sterilization, you can use hydrogen peroxide 6% for 30 minutes or Chlorine solution 0.5% for 10 minutes.
Name
Samara
-
Profession
Question
Can HCV be spread within a household?
Answer
Yes, but not through feco-oral route. By blood contaminated instruments like tooth brushes, shaving instruments, blood contaminated towels etc., occasionally through sexual routes but NOT through eating or drinking.
Name
Fadya
-
Profession
Question
What is the risk that HCV-infected women will spread HCV to their newborn infants?
Answer
Unlike Hepatitis B virus (HBV), HCV infected women have very a low risk of transmitting infection to their infants.
HCV is rarely transmitted trough the pregnant woman to the fetus unless she has very high viremia (level of virus in the blood) or HIV. After delivery the risk is through household contact as explained before. HCV infected women can continue to breast feed normally.
Name
Sunsoon
-
Profession
Question
What can people with Hepatitis C infection do to protect their liver?
Answer
They need to check their liver function tests and liver enzymes regularly. If they are in the chronic hepatitis stage then they will need to receive treatment and stop any drugs that are toxic to the liver as well as alcohol.
They also need to control their weight and diabetes if any and need regular check ups if they are suffering from liver cirrhosis, for early diagnosis of complications.
Name
Rasha
-
Profession
Question
People say that if you put a live pigeon on the site of the liver and it dies it will take the sickness away from the patient.
Answer
This is one of the malpractices and patient abuses that we have seen in the past few years especially in the countryside of Egypt.
Name
Mahi
-
Profession
Question
Why is Hepatitis C infection so widespread in Egypt?
Answer
Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis) which is widespread in Egypt also increases the percentage of people with HCV who will become chronically infected by disturbing the immune system of the body.
