What is hepatitis C infection? Diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis
a. Hepatitis non-A, non-B parenteral transmission.
b. Produced by an RNA virus similar to a flavivirus unihelicoidal.
c. Remained undetected for long.
d. Not detected their respective antibodies by ELISA tests (enzyme linked immunosorbent) but at 4 months after the commencement of the disease.
e. Currently the polymerase reaction tranferasa invertase detected the virus in serum in patients with recent and it is also useful to assess response to treatment and thus have a prognostic value.
Epidemiology
1. Transmission can occur by parenteral administration of blood or blood products.
2. HSV has not been isolated from human milk, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions or urine.
3. The disease is recognized more often in adults, rare in children younger than 15 years.
4. Incubation period of 2 to 12 weeks with an average of 7 to 9 weeks.
Routes of infection
1. Intravenous drug users 40%
2. Without apparent cause 40%
3. 6% heterosexual
4. Contact him at home 3%
5. Contact Occupational 2%
Features
1. Worse prognosis of viral hepatitis because of their greater frequency of fulminant or chronic illness.
2. It is characterized by mild or asymptomatic infection or insidious onset of jaundice and malaise.
3. Related in adults with hepatocellular carcinoma but has not been demonstrated in the child.
4. Tends to chronicity by 50% and may end in cirrhosis.
5. In the pregnant woman concerned that high titers can transmit the infection to the child.
Evolution
1. 80% chronic
2. Resolution 20%
3. Cirrhosis 11%
Diagnoses
1. Serological test for anti-HCV positive in the majority of HCV infected patients.
2. Through this test, however, the anti-HCV may be absent during the acute disease but detects only by 4-6 months after onset of disease, so that a positive serological test for anti-HCV does not necessarily indicate infection continuously.
Treatment
Interferon, after response, but the deposit of iron in the liver and multiple transfusions alter the response.
Prophylaxis
1. Is not satisfactory with the immunoglobulin
2. The vaccine had a problem on genotypic variations of the virus since it is not fixed but is a continuous emergence of new species.
3. Has recently instituted a screening test for blood transfusions, anti-HCV antibodies in order to prevent transfusion-associated hepatitis.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.