|

Author:
George Mckenzie

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus is also known as the HCV virus. Hepatitis C transmission usually occurs through blood transfusions, hemodialysis, and needle sticks. HCV is responsible for most transfusion-associated hepatitis C. Cirrhosis and cancer can result from damage done to the liver by the hepatitis C virus.
There is no cure or vaccine for hepatitis C. There is only prevention. If you wish to avoid becoming infected with hepatitis C, take the following prevention steps:
Hepatitis C Prevention Tip 1: Do not use intravenous drugs. If you shoot drugs, stop and seek the help of a treatment program. If you can't stop, never share needles, syringes, water. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A & B.
Hepatitis C Prevention Tip 2: Do not share personal care items that might have blood on them, like razors and toothbrushes.
Hepatitis C Prevention Tip 3: If you are a health care or public safety worker, always follow routine barrier precautions. Be sure to handle needles and other sharp objects carefully and safely. Get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C Prevention Tip 4: If you are thinking about getting a tattoo or having a body part pierced, be extremely careful. You might get infected if the tools have someone else's blood.
Hepatitis C Prevention Tip 5: Hepatitis C can be spread by sexual contact, but this is rare. You should also get vaccinated against hepatitis B. If you are HCV positive, do not donate blood, organs, or tissue.
Some patients with hepatitis C benefit from treatment with interferon alpha or a combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin.
Rest may be recommended during the acute phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe.
People with hepatitis C should also be careful not to take vitamins, nutritional supplements, or new over-the-counter medications without first discussing it with a doctor.
Any substance that's toxic to the liver, or hepatotoxic, can be dangerous for someone who has been infected by hepatitis C. You should stop drinking alcohol. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can be dangerous because they speed up the progression of hepatitis C. Alcohol reduces the effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment.
For information on alternatives to traditional means of treating hepatitis C, see http://www.hepatitisc.name/alternativehepatitisctreatment.htm.
For more information on treatment with medicines, click on http://www.hepatitisc.name/hepatitiscmedication.htm

About The Author

George McKenzie is a freelance writer and webmaster of http://www.hepatitisc.name.

| Translate/Traduisez/Übersetzen Sie/Traduzca/Traduca/Traduza: Article Keywords: Hepatitis

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Hepatitis... The Risks Of Piercing And Tattooing (NC)-If you plan to get a tattoo, or body piercing, you should know that there is a risk of getting hepatitis C from old, unsterile tattooing needles that have been used on more than one customer, or from unsterile practice by the tattoo artist (i.e. licking the tattooing needle, using the same ink or ink containers for more than one person, or testing needle sharpness by pricking his/her hand.) Body piercing also poses a risk of hepatitis C transmission since it involves the use of needles and possible exposure to blood. If needles and other piercing equipment are not adequately sterilized between customers, they could be a source of hepatitis C infection. Don't let anyone use homemade or reused equipment (including needles, ink or jewelry) on you. Insist on fresh, single-use, disposable needles and fresh ink in new disposable containers, and make sure that all equipment is disinfected and sterilized with an autoclave. Be aware that cleaning with bleach or any other disinfectant doesn't always kill the hepatitis C virus. For more information visit Health Canada's Web site at www.healthcanada.ca/hepc . About The Author News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web. News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made...