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Facebook: @The<strong>Weekender</strong>Spain<br />
Health&Lifestyle<br />
Hepatitis C (The Silent Epidemic)<br />
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus which affects<br />
the liver. It can cause inflammation, scarring and even<br />
cirrhosis of the liver. Liver cirrhosis can increases the<br />
risk of developing liver cancer and liver failure.<br />
The incubation period can be from 2 weeks to 6<br />
months.<br />
The problem with having Hepatitis C virus (HCV)<br />
is that you will not necessarily know you have it.<br />
The symptoms can be vague and often common to<br />
all of us. Symptoms include tiredness, insomnia,<br />
depression, skin problems, abdominal pain and<br />
digestive problems.<br />
Approximately 20%-30% of people who have<br />
contracted HCV will have symptoms.<br />
We know 20% of people with HCV will fight<br />
the virus and clear it within the first 6 months of<br />
contracting it. Unfortunately for the remaining 80%<br />
it will become a chronic condition. Chronic HCV<br />
infection is often asymptomatic and the virus may<br />
be present for years. Unfortunately these people will<br />
have liver damage ranging from mild to severe.<br />
HCV is a tough resilient virus that can survive<br />
outside the body in very small droplets of blood. If<br />
in room temperature it can remain infectious from 16<br />
hours to 4 days on surfaces. In a confined container<br />
like a syringe, it can survive up to 4 weeks.<br />
Blood has the highest concentration of the virus thus<br />
a small trace of blood may have enough virus in it to<br />
cause infection. Sharing intravenous drug equipment<br />
is especially high risk behaviour. Before we all think<br />
it is only drug addicts at risk, we need to understand<br />
other areas of risk where it can be contracted.<br />
Less common ways to have contracted HCV<br />
• Infected mother to baby before or during<br />
birth<br />
• Unprotected sexual intercourse with someone<br />
who has HCV (low risk)<br />
• Medical and dental treatment in high risk<br />
countries where unsterile equipment may be used<br />
FRIday 14th June 2019<br />
• Tattoo, piercings, acupuncture, electrolysis<br />
and semi permanent make up where unsterile<br />
equipment may be used<br />
• Sharing razors, toothbrushes that may have<br />
been contaminated with blood from a HCV positive<br />
person<br />
Who should get tested?<br />
• People who have injected illegal drugs even if<br />
only on one occasion years ago<br />
• People who have received blood transfusions or<br />
blood products in the UK before July 1991<br />
• People who received blood products in the UK<br />
before 1986<br />
• People with HIV<br />
• Healthcare workers after needlestick injuries with<br />
known HCV positive blood<br />
• Patients with symptoms of liver disease eg.<br />
abnormal liver enzyme tests<br />
• Children born to HCV positive mums<br />
The test for HCV is a blood test. Early, prompt<br />
diagnosis improves prognosis.<br />
HCV is treatable. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine<br />
to protect us against it (unlike Hepatitis B).<br />
Treatment can take from 6 months to a year.<br />
Different medications are used some injectable and<br />
some orally. The medication encourages an immune<br />
response to fight the virus. An anti viral will also be<br />
used to stop the virus replicating.<br />
There are side effects, some people being affected<br />
and some not. Lifestyle changes have to be made and<br />
alcohol intake at least reduced, preferably stopped<br />
completely.<br />
For more information or to book an appointment call the Family Medical<br />
Centre on +34 966 865 072, emailing us at info@albirfamilymedicalcentre.com<br />
or on Facebook www.facebook.com/albirfamilymedicalcentre<br />
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