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Hepatitis C is a disease that affects the liver. It is one of the five types of Hepatitis diseases that affect the liver. This disease usually doesn’t present with any symptoms, and when it does, it’s mild. Some of the common symptoms include fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and change in the color of the skin. This disease can persist in the system of the affected individual to become liver cirrhosis, especially when it’s not well treated. Some of the complications of the disease include cancer of the liver, liver failure, and dilation of the blood vessels in the stomach and the esophagus. Hepatitis C has no vaccine, unlike hepatitis B. The only way to prevent this disease is by avoiding the use of intravenous drugs, and thoroughly testing donated blood. This disease can also be spread through vertical transmission. This basically means from mother to her child during child delivery. 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. Stem cell and exosomes are a potential way of treating this disease. 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.

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 Do You Get Infected With Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a disease that is transmitted through blood. There has to be a blood to blood contact with someone that is already infected with the disease. Below are some of the ways this disease can be gotten;

  • Blood transfusions: 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.
  • Organ transplants
  • Sharing needles with someone infected
  • Sharing personal items such as toothbrushes, with someone infected with the disease.
  • Childbirth, also known as vertical 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.
  • Sexual intercourse with someone infected with the disease: 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.

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How Is Hepatitis C Diagnosed?

After taking the full history of the patient, the physician would order some tests to check for the signs of Hepatitis C infection. Some of the blood tests that could be ordered include a genotyping test, liver function test and a liver biopsy to check for the extent of the liver damage.

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.

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.

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