What Is Hepatitis C Type 1?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a disease of the liver that causes inflammation, and interferes with its ability to eliminate wastes from the body. If left untreated, over time, hepatitis C can cause liver failure, and liver cancer. There are six known genotypes of HCV. The most common is hepatitis C type 1. Subtypes of hepatitis C are categorized by the use of lowercase letters; the most prevalent is subtype "a," which is commonly found in the United States, and "b," which is more prevalent throughout Europe.
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Transmission
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Hepatitis C type 1 is not airborne, and it cannot be spread through casual contact. HCV is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact via infected tattoo and intravenous needles, dialysis, unprotected sexual intercourse (rare) and infected razors. In rare cases, hepatitis C type 1 can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth. Prior to 1992, before the screening of blood was commonplace, hepatitis C could be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ donations.
Symptoms
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Hepatitis C type 1 affects nearly 4 million people across the United States. But most people who are infected with HCV never know they have it, as the virus is typically asymptomatic. But when symptoms are present, they can include fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, appetite loss and body aches.
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Diagnosis
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Hepatitis C type 1 can be diagnosed with blood tests. Once the virus is detected, an ultrasound or complete abdominal scan can be used to check for liver damage. If liver damage is present, a tissue sample may be taken to determine the extent of the damage.
Treatments
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Treatment for hepatitis C type 1 currently includes two medications: interferon, which is injected; and ribavirin, which is taken orally. The use of these drugs can be very effective in decreasing your chances of liver damage by reducing the hepatitis C viral load in the body. Side effects of interferon and ribavirin can include low red blood cell counts, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, birth defects, skin rashes, hair loss, trouble concentrating and depression. In addition to medication, people with hepatitis C type 1 need to maintain a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise and avoid drinking alcohol.
Prevention/Solution
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Hepatitis C type 1 can be prevented by using condoms during sexual intercourse, and not sharing personal items such as razors, toothbrushes and intravenous needles.
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