Hepatitis C - as well as where it can be picked up
Infection with hepatitis C through sexual contact
Transmission of the virus through blood transfusions and injections
Infection due to tattoo and manicure
Household transmission through hygiene items
Transmission of the disease from mother to child at birth
Of all infectious hepatitis, known to mankind, hepatitis C is the youngest - it was opened only in the 80s of the last century. But since then, he actively spread across the world, is now about 200 million people are ill or are carriers of this virus. Every day added to their army of several tens of thousands of patients. Any of us could be next, so know what hepatitis C is transmitted to the disease, everyone must.
It should be noted that hepatitis C is still the most insidious of all hepatitis. It is called the "gentle killer", as in the human body, the virus pathogen can exist for many years, almost no posing, but gradually destroying the body. Someone who has hepatitis C virus, or already ill sluggish, chronic hepatitis, it is impossible to distinguish from a healthy person. That's what makes the disease so dangerous.
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What is hepatitis C and how it is fraught with
It is a disease that kills cells of the liver. If it exists stage carrier when a person is walking a farm for viruses. In this case, the disease itself does not issue.
However, upon the occurrence of indolent forms of the disease, also known as chronic disease slowly destroys the liver. Very soon, the patient begins to feel a constant weakness, fatigue, drowsiness. After a while, these features also added aching joints after exercise.
In advanced disease, the patient begins digestive problems, a sharp decrease in appetite, dizziness and nausea. The most dangerous symptom is pain in the right upper quadrant. Often they are disguised, and instead of pain in the liver, a person may complain right shoulder or arm. In the presence of these symptoms should immediately contact the infectious diseases clinic to check for the presence of markers in the blood not only of hepatitis C, and B, since these two types of viruses often accompany each other.
In hepatitis long incubation period of 3 to 6 months, so in the event of dangerous contact is better to wait six months, and only then go for tests. Sometimes hepatitis C is detected immediately. A negative result is better to err and to donate blood for markers again, after waiting a month or two.
Remember, do not joke with hepatitis. Advanced disease often leads to cirrhosis - the mass destruction of liver cells, which occupy a place of connective tissue cells. They are not able to clear the blood of harmful substances, so patients with cirrhosis are doomed to a slow death.
Of course, every disease, prevention is better than cure. That is why it is so important to know how it is transmitted disease.
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Hepatitis C - as well as where it can be picked up
Hepatitis C virus is very resistant. He can live at room temperature for up to 3-4 days, even a fairly good resistance to the strong, to 80-90 ° C, heating. However, HCV is transmitted only from the blood into the blood. And this fact narrows the way it is transmitted. There are several:
Sexual contact.
Direct transfer of the virus through blood transfusions and injections.
Infection during tattooing or manicure.
Household transmission path, using common hygiene items - toothbrushes and scissors.
From mother to child at birth.
It should be noted that there are several cases where the route of transmission of hepatitis C and could not identify. Therefore, you should observe certain precautions whenever kontaktiruesh and living with strangers. They are elementary - do not use other people's hygiene items, to avoid damage to the skin, and if this happens, immediately treat and close the wound plaster or bandage.
Each of the modes of transmission has many features, so that on each of them is to talk separately.
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Infection with hepatitis C through sexual contact
When sexual contact Hepatitis C is not transmitted too often. Moreover, there are many couples where one spouse is sick or is a carrier of hepatitis C. These people are sexually active, not using condoms. However, cases of transmission of the disease are rare. But it should be noted that it is a traditional pairs consisting of men and women.
In homosexual couples where both partners are male, statistics is somewhat different. Their percentage of hepatitis C infection is much higher. This is due to the fact that anal sex is higher as the risk of damage to the mucosa and the surrounding skin.
This feature is common to all diseases that are sexually transmitted.
In the normal, traditional sex risk of mucosal injury is minimized.
However, more exotic types of sex he rises sharply.
It should be noted that so far there are no exact statistics on oral sex. Therefore we can not say with certainty how often do people infected with hepatitis C is transmitted by practicing this kind of sexual contact. However, be aware that the presence of cracks or sores in the mouth of one of the partners must immediately become a reason for abandoning this type of caresses.
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Transmission of the virus through blood transfusions and injections
Today, blood and blood products are checked carefully enough, so the risk of contracting hepatitis C in the hospital is very small. The use of disposable syringes and needles nullified the risk of transmission of the virus with injections.
However, it should be noted that there are two groups of people who are daily exposed to the risk of contracting hepatitis C - and not just as a result of injections. This medical and drug addicts. The first risk of needlesticks or tool that has just come into contact with the blood of the patient, and the latter are often already used syringes left over from fellow sufferers.
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Infection due to tattoo and manicure
Tools for tattoo and nail often come into contact with blood. Despite the fact that the rules put to use for tattooing only disposable needles, each time throwing a needle after use, wizard trying to save and "stretch" one needle for a few customers.
Unlike hospitals, sanitary control over the tattoo parlor is not so severe.
Therefore, there were cases when the tattoo parlor, not only do people get hepatitis C or B, but get HIV.
To guard against this danger, the customer shall require the master to the opened package with the needle in front of him, in front of him.
In nail salons situation is aggravated because the disposable scissors and clippers are not yet invented. All the tools after each client must be sanitized. However, in practice, the master is not always maintained tools necessary time in the disinfectant solution. The reasons are different - and a large influx of customers, and the elementary inattention.
The best way to avoid the risk of contracting hepatitis C in a nail salon - this is to choose a master, you can trust, and to come to him at the appointed time, when there is no rush. Another way is to make your own nail kit and carry it with you each time you visit the salon.
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Household transmission through hygiene items
Cases where people pass the hepatitis C virus through toothbrushes, scissors, and other household items, are extremely rare. However, even small cracks in the mouth or the skin may lead to the fact that items related to get microscopic droplet of blood. Therefore, if the house has hepatitis C patients, some caution should be observed in everyday life.
We support all of the disease should be separate - a toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clippers, towels and dishes. Furthermore, it is desirable to have at home and medical gloves tweezers. They are needed to handle the cuts in the case of wounds, without contact with blood.
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Transmission of the disease from mother to child at birth
The risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus is not so great. The placenta surrounding the child, protects it from viruses that can live in the body of the mother. However, at the moment of birth, when the child leaves the placenta, catch some danger still exists.
However, when properly administered childbirth obstetrician this danger decreases sharply. The number of infants infected with hepatitis C from their mothers - 4.5 children per hundred births.
Finally I would like to note that hepatitis C is quite dangerous as the disease. While there is no treatment that can quickly and reliably cure the disease. However, there are many tools that protect the liver cells and help the body cope with the disease. Among people receiving treatment hepatoprotectors, the amount recovered up to 30-35%. This creates a very encouraging prospect for those who are already ill.
For healthy people, the main objective is not to get sick. To do so little - to avoid dangerous contacts, treating wounds and ensure personal hygiene.
