Symptoms Of Infection With Hepatitis C
Symptoms of acute infection with hepatitis C
Acute infection is the period when you first contract the virus, during this period most people do not seem to experience any noticeable symptoms.
For the 25-35% of people who do, the symptoms are normally vague and non-specific.They can include: Abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting
About 20% of the people who develop symptoms experience jaundice. This can be seen in the yellowing of the skin and eyes. This is a sign of the livers functions being affected as bilirubin begins to build up in the body. Jaundice is a recognised sign of liver problems and may lead to a test for hepatitis C being suggested.The problem for most people is that they are unaware that they have been infected because of the lack of symptoms. As these symptoms are similar to many other short term infections most people are unlikely to seek medical attention.
And even when they do, most doctors will not necessarily suspect or test for hepatitis C.
Symptoms of chronic infection with hepatitis C
Chronic infection doesn’t mean that you have symptoms, chronic means that the infection is ongoing, that you are living with the virus.
The hepatitis C virus is associated with a wide spectrum of liver disease. This ranges from minor inflammation to cirrhosis, and in certain cases liver cancer.
Chronic fatigue
Pains in the upper part of the abdomen
Dry eyes, irritable bowel and irritable bladder
Do not assume that all of your aches and pains are related to hepatitis.
Arthritis Caused By Illnesses
Having arthritis certainly increases your risk for migrating joint pain, but that doesnt mean its the only cause of migratory arthritis. Rheumatic fever, an inflammatory illness, is a common cause of migratory arthritis. This fever stems from strep throat and can cause joint swelling and pain, among other complications.
Other inflammatory illnesses that may cause migratory arthritis are:
Why People May Experience Body Pains During Covid
Body pains in the course of any viral disease be it Covid-19, dengue or chikangunya are quite common. But in case of Covid, body pain can occur with or without other symptoms. Roughly, 20-25% patients, particularly in their old age, may experience muscle or joint pain along with the other symptoms while in around 5%, it may be the only symptom.
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Can Post Covid Joint Pain Be Reversed Or Not
First there is a need to assess the history of the patient to see the person suffered from joint issues in the past or not. Secondly, the joints have to be analyzed to see whether structurally the virus infection or any illness has caused damage to the tissues in a permanent way.
In case there was no history of disease or no significant damage to the tissues, the following must be done.
- The patients must get back to physical exercise gradually. A lot of times, it happens that many of us are not used to taking rest for more than two days.
- Rest, adequate hydration and some supplements will help
- In order to avoid post-Covid pains, one must not stay inactive completely and if you are quarantined then moderate exercise must be continued
- During Covid, however, one must avoid strenuous exercise, because you may face a condition called hypoxia or low oxygen saturation because of which you may suffer from anaerobic metabolism with increased levels of lactate which may increase the severity of the disease.
- If there is no damage to their joints, people will come out of it with time
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When To See Your Doctor
Always check with your doctor if you have any of the signs of hepatitis. If you don’t get treatment it can lead to cirrhosis, a serious scarring of your liver.
Also make an appointment if a friend or member of your family comes down with the disease. There’s a risk you could get infected, too.
Be on the lookout for symptoms of hepatitis if you travel to a country where the disease is common. Call your doctor if you think you’re showing any signs.
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When To Consult A Doctor
People might avoid consulting a doctor due to the commonality of the issue however, it is important to report to a doctor immediately if you have severe joint pains to avoid further complications. The common signs and symptoms to look out for are stiffness, tenderness, bone spurs, swelling in joints and fatigue.
Joint pain is a common issue but winters or cold weather makes it awful for some. If you are also someone who experience immense pain in joints at low temperature, you must take preventive measures. If the pain becomes unbearable despite trying home remedies and other options, you can consult a doctor for relief. Never ignore the pain as it might be a symptom of an underlying disease.
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What Happens To Your Health When You Arent Treated For Hepatitis C
Although medication can cure hepatitis C, millions of people arent taking it. The problem: Left untreated, the virus can lead to serious health complications.
Theres a reason the hepatitis C virus is called the silent killer. All too often, people dont realize theyve been infected. Out of the estimated 2.4 million people in the United States who have hepatitis C, more than half dont know they have it, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Usually when someone gets infected with hepatitis C, they initially until the disease gets fairly advanced, says Hardeep Singh, MD, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. The median time it takes for symptoms…to develop is 30 years.”
While some people are able to clear the virus on their own, most arent, and more than 50 percent go on to develop long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Over time, untreated hepatitis C can cause hardening and scarring of the liver, which can cause complications that eventually lead to liver failure.
Liver cirrhosis and liver failure usually cannot be reversed sometimes a liver transplant is the only treatment option once advanced liver damage occurs. With hepatitis C, your risk of liver cancer also rises.
Here are a few other conditions that can be caused by untreated hepatitis C.
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How Do You Get Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A can be spread by sexual contact with an infected person or close personal contact . However, it is most often spread by what scientists call the fecal-oral route. This happens when one person eats or drinks something that has small amounts of fecal matter from another person who has hepatitis A. This can happen by touching something that has the virus on it and then putting your hands in your mouth. It can happen when food is grown, picked, processed or served. Water can also be contaminated.
Mothers do not pass on hepatitis A in breast milk. You cannot be infected with HAV by sitting near to or hugging someone with hepatitis A. It does not spread through coughs or sneezes.
Causes Of Chronic Hepatitis
The most common causes of chronic hepatitis are
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Alcohol-related liver disease Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Alcohol-related liver disease is liver damage caused by drinking too much alcohol for a long time. In general, the amount of alcohol consumed determines… read more
Hepatitis C virus causes about 60 to 70% of cases of chronic hepatitis, and at least 75% of acute hepatitis C cases become chronic.
About 5 to 10% of hepatitis B cases in adults, sometimes with hepatitis D Hepatitis D Hepatitis D virus is infection of the liver that occurs only in people who have hepatitis B. Hepatitis D can be spread by contact with blood and other body fluids. Coinfection with hepatitis… read more coinfection, become chronic. Acute hepatitis B becomes chronic in up to 90% of infected newborns and in 25 to 50% of young children.
Rarely, hepatitis E virus causes chronic hepatitis in people with a weakened immune system, such as those who are taking drugs to suppress the immune system after an organ transplant, who are taking drugs to treat cancer, or who have HIV infection.
Hepatitis A virus does not cause chronic hepatitis.
Less often, chronic hepatitis results from
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Autoimmune hepatitis
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Drugs
In autoimmune hepatitis, the chronic inflammation resembles inflammation caused by the body attacking its own tissues . Autoimmune hepatitis is more common among women than men.
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What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis
The liver is a large organ that sits up under your ribs on the right side of your belly . It helps filter waste from your body, makes bile to help digest food, and stores sugar that your body uses for energy. Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when your bodys infection-fighting system attacks your liver cells. This causes swelling, inflammation and liver damage.
It is a long-term or chronic inflammatory liver disease.
Autoimmune hepatitis:
- May occur at any age
- Affects women more than men
- Is often linked to other diseases where the body attacks itself
What Causes Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus causes this type of hepatitis and spreads through contact with an infected persons stool. Contact can occur by
- eating food made by an infected person who did not wash his or her hands after using the bathroom
- drinking untreated water or eating food washed in untreated water
- placing a finger or an object in your mouth that came into contact with an infected persons stool
- having close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill
You cannot get hepatitis A from
- being coughed on or sneezed on by an infected person
- sitting next to an infected person
- hugging an infected person
A baby cannot get hepatitis A from breast milk.4
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What Is Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and damage. Inflammation is swelling that occurs when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can damage organs.
Viruses invade normal cells in your body. Many viruses cause infections that can be spread from person to person. The hepatitis A virus typically spreads through contact with food or water that has been contaminated by an infected persons stool.
Hepatitis A is an acute or short-term infection, which means people usually get better without treatment after a few weeks. In rare cases, hepatitis A can be severe and lead to liver failure and the need for an emergency liver transplant to survive. Hepatitis A does not lead to long-term complications, such as cirrhosis, because the infection only lasts a short time.
You can take steps to protect yourself from hepatitis A, including getting the hepatitis A vaccine. If you have hepatitis A, you can take steps to prevent spreading hepatitis A to others.
Theres Reason For Hope With Hepatitis C
Unfortunately, even when people are diagnosed with hepatitis C, many dont do anything about it. According to a report published in May 2013 in the New England Journal of Medicine, only about a third of people with hepatitis C receive medical care for their condition.
Yet Singh says hes seeing more people with hepatitis C than ever before, as people are finding out that new treatment options often work well. New treatments for hepatitis C have been revolutionary, he says. Over 95 percent of patients can be cured with three months of treatment.
Newer antiviral drugs can clear the virus even in people who have had no luck on earlier medications. They also generally take less time to start working, cause fewer side effects, and can treat and even eliminate illnesses caused by hepatitis C.
The CDC recommends that all American adults over age 18 get screened at least once. Pregnant women should be tested during each pregnancy. People who inject drugs, share needles, or have received maintenance hemodialysis are also at risk. If you are in one of these higher risk groups, you should be tested routinely. Talk to your doctor.
If you do test positive and get treated, keep in mind that damage from liver cirrhosis usually cant be reversed, Singh says. Following treatment, youll be monitored closely for liver cancer and other health problems.
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Why Cold Weather Affects Joint Pain
Joint pain can arise at any time irrespective of the season but it is observed that it is more prevalent in the cold season or when the person is living in a colder climate. As per Dr. Debashish Chanda, during the winter season when the temperature is low, the muscles may begin to contract. The joints also face contraction and tighten a bit more leading to severe pain in the muscles. Another reason for joint pain is inadequate levels of vitamin D as in winters, usually, the body is not much exposed to sunlight. This leads to poor intake of vitamin D and as a result, one may experience pain in muscles and joints.
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Lifestyle Makes A Difference
Medications play a key role in migratory arthritis treatment. Your lifestyle can also help to determine the long-term outlook of your condition. A healthy diet can help keep your weight down, reducing the pressure on already strained joints. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and tuna may reduce inflammation.
Working out may be the last thing you feel like doing, but regular exercise can benefit your joints in the long run. Walking or swimming can offer the most benefits without the extra pain.
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How Long Does It Last
Hepatitis A can last from a few weeks to several months.
Hepatitis B can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks, to a serious, life-long condition. More than 90% of unimmunized infants who get infected develop a chronic infection, but 6%10% of older children and adults who get infected develop chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks, to a serious, life-long infection. Most people who get infected with the hepatitis C virus develop chronic hepatitis C.
Rheumatologic Manifestations Of Viral Hepatitis B And C
Sandeep Satsangi1, Nikhil Gupta2*
1DM Hepatology Resident, Department of Hepatology, PGIMER Chandigarh, Punjab, India
2Department of Medicine, Fellow Rheumatology, Department of clinical immunology and Rheumatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
- *Corresponding Author:
- Department of Medicine, Fellow RheumatologyDepartment of clinical immunology and RheumatologyChristian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, IndiaTel: 91-9873098719
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History Of The Present Illness
A 65-year-old African American man with a 4-year history of nontophaceous, crystal-proven polyarticular gout presented to the emergency room with a painful left leg and knee swelling of 4 days’ duration. A Doppler ultrasound revealed no deep vein thrombosis, and arthrocentesis of the left knee was performed . Monosodium urate crystals were identified. Acute gouty arthritis was diagnosed and compliance with daily colchicine was recommended, along with leg elevation. Two days later, Streptococcus viridans and pan-sensitive Escherichia coli grew from the synovial fluid . Attempts to contact the patient were unsuccessful.
| Date | |
|---|---|
| Present | Negative |
- RBC = red blood cell WBC = white blood cell MSU = monosodium urate AFB = acid-fast bacilli ER = emergency room.
Twelve days later, the patient returned to the emergency room with worsening symptoms and an unchanged examination. A repeat ultrasound of the left lower extremity revealed a Baker’s cyst, but no evidence of rupture. He was treated with ibuprofen and hydrocodone/acetaminophen, and was instructed to follow up with his primary care physician. No reference was made to the prior polymicrobial SF results.
Four weeks later, without any resolution in his symptoms, the patient had his third emergency room visit within 6 weeks. Examination revealed a left knee effusion with limited and painful range of motion. He was admitted for further evaluation.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hepatitis A
Some people have symptoms 2 to 7 weeks after they come in contact with the virus.3 People with hepatitis A typically get better without treatment after a few weeks. In some cases, symptoms can last up to 6 months. These symptoms may include
Some people infected with hepatitis A have no symptoms, including many children younger than age 6.3 Older children and adults are more likely to have symptoms.
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What Are The Treatments For Hepatitis A
If you have not had the vaccine, and your infection has been confirmed by a blood sample, your healthcare provider might give you the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin . This only works if the medicine is given within two weeks of you being exposed to HAV.
If you were exposed and are unable to get the vaccine or the immune globulin, you are likely to recover without treatment. However, your healthcare provider will probably recommend that you follow the following self-care recommendations:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Review any type of medicineprescription and over-the-counterthat you take with your healthcare provider. Even things like supplements or vitamins could cause damage to your liver.
How Can You Prevent Hepatitis A
There is a vaccine, made from an inactivateddeadvirus to prevent hepatitis A. If you are not sure you have had the vaccine, you can ask your doctor to test you to see if you have been vaccinated.
You can also practice good hand washing hygiene. Make sure you use soap and warm water to wash your hands for at least 15 to 30 seconds after you use the toilet, change diapers, and before and after touching food.
If you are traveling in another country, especially a developing country, drink only bottled water and use only bottled water to brush your teeth, wash your produce, and freeze for ice cubes.
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