Stem Cell Therapy
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver. It’s a disease that leads to the inflammation of the liver. Patients might show mild, or no symptoms initially. However, some of the signs and symptoms showed might include fever, abdominal discomfort, and yellow discoloration of the skin, and the sclera of the eyes. The virus remains in up to 80% of those infected with the disease. The chronic infection does not usually show any symptoms in the early stage, but would eventually lead to complications such as liver failure, cirrhosis, cancer, dilation of vessels in the stomach and in the esophagus. Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through blood to blood contact. This occurs mostly intravenous drug users, blood transfusions and so on. This disease can also be spread through vertical transmission. This basically means from mother to her child during child delivery. The risk of spreading this virus is reduced by screening blood during a blood transfusion. Hepatitis C is just one of other hepatitis. Others include Hepatitis A, B, D and E. There are presently no vaccinations against Hepatitis C. Chronic infections can be treated and cured in almost all cases with antiviral medications. Those who develop complications such as liver cirrhosis might require a liver transplant. Physicians can buy stem cells online that can be used for the treatment of hepatitis C.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Hepatitis C?
The signs and symptoms of hepatitis C depend on the type. There is the acute and chronic hepatitis C.
Acute infection: The signs and symptoms of hepatitis C in the acute stage is usually mild. Some of the signs and symptoms include loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, pain in the joints and muscles, and loss of weight. Majority of the acute hepatitis infection usually resolves in up to 50% of cases. It has been observed that acute hepatitis C occurs more in young females.
Chronic infection: According to statistics, about 80% of those affected by the disease do develop chronic infection. Chronic infection is for those that have had the disease for more than 6 months. Chronic infection occurs because the body’s immune system is not capable of fighting off and eliminating the disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of chronic infection of hepatitis C include tiredness and cognitive problems. Chronic infection that persists for years has a high chance of leading to complications such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer. In addition, there might be some fatty changes in the liver. Liver cirrhosis may lead to symptoms such as portal hypertension, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, also known as ascites, esophageal bleeding, bleeding, due to impairment in the production of clotting factors, jaundice and so on.
How Is Hepatitis C Transmitted?
Hepatitis C is spread mostly through intravenous drug abuse in the developed world. On the other hand, it’s mostly transmitted through blood transfusion in the developing countries. Below are some of the ways of transmitting hepatitis C.
- Intravenous drug abuse: This is most prevalent in developed countries. Intravenous drug abuse is one of the most important risk factors of transmitting hepatitis in about 80 countries, including the United States of America.
- Blood transfusion: This is more common in developing countries. Some hospitals in this region don’t properly screen the blood before they transfuse. This is also the case of organ transplants. Proper screening would drastically reduce the rate of transmission of the hepatitis C in these regions.
- Sexual intercourse: People get hepatitis C when they have unprotected sexual intercourse with someone that is infected with the virus. In addition, the disease can be gotten if the blood, saliva, semen and vaginal secretions enter the body. It has been observed that the risk of transmitting hepatitis C in heterosexual relationships is quite low, as compared to homosexual, anal penetrative sex. The use of a condom is one of the effective ways of curtailing this.
- Mother-to-child transmission: This occurs during childbirth, and it’s one of the most common ways of spreading Hepatitis C, especially in areas where the disease is common. In addition, pregnant women, and those that want to get pregnant should be tested for the disease. It has been observed that this occurs more in women with prolonged labor. There is no evidence yet, to prove that this virus can be transmitted through breastfeeding.
- Sharing items: Sharing personal items with people, such as toothbrushes, razors, and equipment used for manicure and pedicure increases the risk of getting infected by Hepatitis C.
What are the complications of Hepatitis C?
It’s possible to live with Hepatitis C for a long time without knowing. This is because the disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, until the later stages. Some of the complications of hepatitis C include the following;
Liver cirrhosis: Liver cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver cells begin to undergo fibrosis. The cells of the liver begin to die gradually. This significantly impairs the function of the liver. Some of the complications of hepatitis C include;
- Swelling in the lower limbs and also the abdomen. This can eventually lead to bacterial infection
- Splenomegaly: This is a condition in which the spleen becomes enlarged. This might lead to a reduction in the number of white blood cells and thrombocytopenia.
- Cholelithiasis: This is a medical condition in which there is the formation of stones in the gallbladder. This impedes the flow of bile from the gallbladder to the intestine.
- Renal failure
- Respiratory failure
- Suppressed immune system.
How Is Hepatitis C Currently Treated?
It’s important to be under a doctor’s care if you have hepatitis. Hepatitis C is treated with medications. Some of the medications administered by doctors include pegylated interferon and antiviral drugs. Examples of the anti-viral drugs include ribavirin. The anti-viral drugs work by basically impeding the reproduction of the viruses.
Stem Cell Therapy And Hepatitis C
Stem cells are unique cells that are capable of repairing and replacing the damaged and dead cells in the body. They also have the ability to modulate inflammatory processes. Stem cell treatment is important for patients suffering from hepatitis, especially chronic hepatitis C
References
Dickson, I. (2017). Stem cells: Stem cell therapy for liver cirrhosis unrealistic?. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 15(1), pp.4-4.
Grompe, M. (2014). Liver Stem Cells, Where Art Thou?. Cell Stem Cell, 15(3), pp.257-258.
Rajaram, R., Subramani, B., Abdullah, B. and Mahadeva, S. (2017). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for advanced liver cirrhosis: A case report. JGH Open, 1(4), pp.153-155.
Zhang, Z. and Wang, F. (2013). Stem cell therapies for liver failure and cirrhosis. Journal of Hepatology, 59(1), pp.183-185.Stem Cell Therapy And Hepatic Carcinoma
