Small Self Testing Strategies for Families Suffering from Hepatitis C

If you have a history of blood transfusions, tattoos, eyebrow tattoos, earring piercings, unclean sexual activity, and the use of unclean syringes or improperly disinfected dental instruments for tooth extraction, you should go to the hospital for a hepatitis C test. Why do hepatitis C patients appear healthy in their daily lives? To learnhealth self-assessment [SEP]. Not long ago, a middle-aged man in his forties came to the outpatient department of the hospital. His family said that he had been experiencing fatigue, decreased appetite, and occasional right rib pain in recent months. The doctor diagnosed him with advanced liver cirrhosis. My family feels very strange. He is usually strong and healthy, and does not smoke or drink alcohol. Moreover, he has never been found to have any illness during his annual physical examination at the workplace. Why did he suddenly develop liver cirrhosis? The doctor found through inquiring about the medical history that the patient had been in a car accident 8 years ago and had received blood transfusions during surgery. After further testing for hepatitis C antibodies, it was confirmed that the patient was infected with hepatitis C. Experts have commented that 75% to 80% of patients infected with hepatitis C virus do not show obvious early symptoms. However, when patients seek medical attention due to related symptoms, they often have already developed liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, missing the best treatment opportunity for early diseases.Compared with other viral hepatitis such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C is more likely to be latent and damage the liver unconsciously. Once decompensated cirrhosis occurs, the 10-year survival rate of patients is only 25%. So, hepatitis C is also known as the "hidden killer" by people. In addition, people do not have sufficient awareness of the potential harm caused by hepatitis C in a hidden state, so there are few hepatitis C patients who voluntarily go to the hospital for examination and formal treatment. Not having received blood transfusion does not mean that one will not be infected with hepatitis C. Experts point out that about 80% of hepatitis C in Western countries is transmitted through blood transfusions, but in China, 50% to 60% of patients are infected with hepatitis C through other means. People who have undergone skin and mucous membrane trauma procedures such as tattooing, eyebrow tattooing, and earring piercing using instruments that have not been strictly disinfected are high-risk groups for hepatitis C. However, if the disinfection of infusion sets or needles is not strict, and some clinics, especially some unregulated dental clinics, do not operate properly, it can spread hepatitis C. In addition, trauma and unhygienic lifestyle habits can also cause the spread of hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C treatment can "root out"

Typical case

A patient was busy with work. After being diagnosed with hepatitis C, he was afraid of delaying work and heard that using interferon would "kill white blood cells" and cause a high fever. Plus, after getting sick, there are no symptoms and I don't mind eating or drinking, so I decided not to follow the doctor's advice and take some liver protective medicine to make do. It's only been a few years, and now his liver has started to fibrose. Recently, he came to the hospital again, but missed the opportunity for treatment. Experts have pointed out that it is entirely possible to cure hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is treated with antiviral therapy, using a conventional interferon combined with ribavirin regimen. If using a combination therapy of peginterferon (such as paroxetine) and ribavirin, the cure rate can exceed 60%, which means that even after six months of discontinuation, the hepatitis C virus cannot be detected in the blood. Some patients mistakenly believe that as long as the transaminase is normal, it is good, so they blindly take liver protective and enzyme lowering drugs. In fact, at this time, the hepatitis C virus is temporarily lurking and has not been cleared, still invading the liver. Whether hepatitis B or hepatitis C, the most effective treatment is antiviral. As for some patients who are overly concerned about side effects, experts suggest that only when the white blood cell count drops to 3 * 103/cubic millimeter and the platelet count drops to 5 * 104/milliliter should the issue of stopping or reducing medication be considered. Otherwise, treatment

should not be abandoned halfway. If the medication is stopped midway, not only will the previous efforts be in vain, but it may also cause the condition to continue to recur.

Details can be found in the Health Self Testing Topic http://exam.fh21.com.cn/jkzc/ .