Each part of the human body is susceptible to some kind of disease. Heart disease, Meningitis, and crippling neurological disorders to name a few. The liver is no exception. Hepatitis is the name for inflammation of the liver, and Hep. C is a category of the many forms of liver inflammation. It is a contagious virus existing as an illness that attacks the liver in different ranges of severity throughout one's lifetime (CDC, 2016). The Hepatitis C Virus attacks the liver, is transmitted through contaminated blood, can be prevented through avoid skin piercing from contaminated needles and practicing safe sexual practices, is mostly asymptomatic and may go undiagnosed, and many advancements have been made to broaden the possibility of treatment.
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Many patients will develop a long-lasting chronic infection, which may lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer (CDC, 2016). After years of a chronic infection, inflammation may have done enough damage to scar the liver, called Cirrhosis, which occurs in 20% of those with HCV (How Does Hepatitis…, 2016). At this point, the liver will be unable to heal itself. Cirrhosis has two stages: Compensated cirrhosis, which is still functioning, and decompensated cirrhosis, where the liver no longer functions or is breaking down (Case-Lo, 2014). Liver cancer can also be caused by HCV, but only 5% of those infected will get liver cancer. This risk for cancer is heightened by cirrhosis, but can take place even without scarring. As the liver attempts to heal itself from the damage done, the odds of liver cancer increase. The more growth, the higher the risk for mutation, which can lead to cancer and tumors. If a person is diagnosed, it is important to stop drinking, as well as taking over the counter painkillers as this speeds up liver damage (How Does Hepatitis…, …show more content…
This is why it is important to get tested for Hepatitis C for any of the following reasons. Most people with Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms at all, but there are a range of symptoms a person can have soon after being infected such as fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, and other common symptoms. These usually present themselves about 6-7 weeks after exposure, but most people do not develop symptoms. Because there usually aren’t any symptoms, it is important to get tested to prevent long term damage to one’s body. A person should get tested for any of the following are true: born between 1945 and 1965, current or former injection drug user (even if only used one time), received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, on hemodialysis treatment, abnormal liver tests or disease, accidental needlestick/sharp object injury, or infected with HIV (CDC,
Many patients will develop a long-lasting chronic infection, which may lead to cirrhosis and/or liver cancer (CDC, 2016). After years of a chronic infection, inflammation may have done enough damage to scar the liver, called Cirrhosis, which occurs in 20% of those with HCV (How Does Hepatitis…, 2016). At this point, the liver will be unable to heal itself. Cirrhosis has two stages: Compensated cirrhosis, which is still functioning, and decompensated cirrhosis, where the liver no longer functions or is breaking down (Case-Lo, 2014). Liver cancer can also be caused by HCV, but only 5% of those infected will get liver cancer. This risk for cancer is heightened by cirrhosis, but can take place even without scarring. As the liver attempts to heal itself from the damage done, the odds of liver cancer increase. The more growth, the higher the risk for mutation, which can lead to cancer and tumors. If a person is diagnosed, it is important to stop drinking, as well as taking over the counter painkillers as this speeds up liver damage (How Does Hepatitis…, …show more content…
This is why it is important to get tested for Hepatitis C for any of the following reasons. Most people with Hepatitis C do not have any symptoms at all, but there are a range of symptoms a person can have soon after being infected such as fever, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, and other common symptoms. These usually present themselves about 6-7 weeks after exposure, but most people do not develop symptoms. Because there usually aren’t any symptoms, it is important to get tested to prevent long term damage to one’s body. A person should get tested for any of the following are true: born between 1945 and 1965, current or former injection drug user (even if only used one time), received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, on hemodialysis treatment, abnormal liver tests or disease, accidental needlestick/sharp object injury, or infected with HIV (CDC,