Hepatitis C: Symptoms, Medication, and Treatment
Hepatitis C is a kind of liver infection that can result in significant liver damage. The Hepatitis C virus causes this illness. In the United States of America, more than 4 million people have this Hepatitis C disease. Hepatitis C causes much fewer symptoms; hence it is very hard to detect; people may not know that they are having the disease. The virus can be spread through the bodily fluids and blood of the infected person. There are different forms of Hepatitis C virus; type 1 is the most common Hepatitis C. Different types of virus respond differently to the treatment.
Hepatitis C Symptoms
Many patients have Hepatitis C but do not show any symptoms. When the virus finally enters the blood of the infected person; then the symptoms of Hepatitis C start to show. Some symptoms will indicate the person is infected with Hepatitis C.
- Clay-colored poop.
- Fever.
- Dark Urine.
- Jaundice (This condition causes yellow skin and eyes; also dark urine).
- Fatigue.
- Losing appetite.
- Joint pain.
- Stomach pain.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
The symptoms are usually active for 3 to 13 weeks; at this period, you can understand that the person is infected with Hepatitis C.
Symptoms of Advanced Hepatitis C
When Hepatitis C infection goes to an advanced state, it shows some different symptoms compared to the acute stage.
- Formation of fluid in the abdominal cavity or legs.
- The brain of the patient does not work properly (encephalopathy).
- Bruising as well as easy bleeding.
- Kidney failure.
- Muscle loss.
- A huge amount of itching.
- Veins show a typical spider-like design on the skin.
- Problems with concentration and memory.
- Gallstone.
- Weight loss.
- There is bleeding in the lower esophagus, which results in vomiting blood.
Medication and Treatment of Hepatitis C
Acute Hepatitis C does not require any medication or treatment, but if it changes in chronic, then some medications are available. Ribavirin, peginterferon, and interferon are the main Hepatitis C medicines. These medicines also have some side effects like fatigue, anemia, mild anxiety, nausea, depression, skin rash, flu, and diarrhea. Many Hepatitis C treatments are available in the present day.
- Daclatasvir (Daklinza): This medicine should be taken once in a single day with sofosbuvir for about 13 weeks.
- Elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier): This medicine has cured Hepatitis C in most cases.
- Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni): This medicine cures Hepatitis C in 7 to 11 weeks of infection.
- Ombitasvir-paritaprevir-dasabuvir-ritonavir (Viekira Pak): A combination of few pills does this treatment. There are two pills that you have to take once every day and another that you have to take twice every day with your meal. Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) with Ribavirin and Interferon: It is a tablet that the patient has to take along with Ribavirin and Interferon at the exact time every day.
- Ombitasvir-paritaprevir- ritonavir (Technivie): This pill or tablet is taken through your mouth, and it works best if it is taken with Ribavirin.
- Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (Epclusa): Taking this medicine for almost 12 weeks daily can cure Hepatitis C infection.