Virus C is even more dangerous than virus B

In the most recent study of all patients infected with hepatitis C virus treated internally and externally at Cho Ray hospital, Dr. Banh Vu Dien, Head of Hepatitis Department of Cho Ray Hospital, warned the rate of cancer Liver cancer due to hepatitis C is higher and faster than virus B.

85% of hepatitis C virus will be chronic.A patient with hepatitis is being treated at Cho Ray Hospital.(Photo: VNN)

Meanwhile, there is only hepatitis B vaccine in Vietnam, but not hepatitis C vaccine.

About 15 - 40% of Vietnam's population is exposed to virus C, of ​​which 85% of hepatitis C cases develop chronic. Without treatment, after 20-30 years, 20% of chronic hepatitis will develop cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Hepatitis C: Very contagious

In 2005, the Hepatitis Department clinic received 1,794 hepatitis C patients, accounting for 19% of the total number of patients who came for hepatitis because of other causes.

While only 94 patients out of 4,000 hepatitis B patients were hospitalized for inpatient treatment, more than 350 / 1,794 patients had to be hospitalized for serious and permanent liver damage from hepatitis. vi C.

In the past, people often ignored and did not go to work on blood tests. Currently, the economic life develops, the people are more aware and concerned about their own health issues. Therefore, recently, the rate of detection of hepatitis C virus increased significantly compared to 5 years ago.

However, the economic life is growing, more and more people need beauty care. People who come to beauty salons, beauty care, especially eye-to-eye invasion in areas where sterile problems are not guaranteed, are also very susceptible to hepatitis C.

In addition, patients with long-term dialysis also need to have tests to screen for hepatitis C virus. In principle, every dialysis patient must replace a new filter. But under current conditions, many establishments have to re-use filters. Although it is possible to use sterile filter bar technique, with dialysis time usually lasts for a lifetime, the risk of infection with virus C is very high due to dialysis, which is often in direct contact with blood.

Symptoms are not clear

With hepatitis B, most patients have symptoms. As for hepatitis C, there is often no obvious symptoms.

Some people only have cold-like symptoms, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, flu, weakness, joint pain and mild abdominal pain.

Less common symptoms such as dark urine, yellow eyes, jaundice. Hepatitis C is often accidentally discovered during a routine health check or when giving blood.

A person who has been infected with the hepatitis C virus can infect other people within the first 2 weeks. Therefore, Dr. Banh Vu Dien stressed, testing to test is an important thing. Many people with latent virus infection, blood tests are the only way to detect the disease.

In the picture is a person who is feeling his back to treat cold.
This is also a risk of virus C infection (Photo: BS BVDien)

Should be detected early for treatment

Hepatitis C can be treated well if it is not in the cirrhosis stage.

Most when patients detect hepatitis C virus is too late compared to the period of good treatment. Patients often have cirrhosis, or decompensated cirrhosis (ie, ascites with water, right leg).

At this stage, treatment is both high and low cost. In many serious cases, if a liver transplant is required, patients have to pay billions of VND but the effect is not high and the disease can recur.

However, according to Dr. Dien, currently, adult liver transplantation in Vietnam is not possible in the near future.

"First, this is a very expensive surgery, because after-transplant drugs are very expensive. Moreover, the Law on organ donation of Vietnam only allows family members to donate. But if there is one in the family People with the disease often have liver problems in the whole family because of the high risk of infection, " Dr. Dien explained.

Eating appropriately: Reduce the risk of liver

Hepatitis C virus is a virus that causes liver damage.

Usually the disease will progress slowly slowly in the period of 20-30 years to eventually lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Many factors affect this process. In particular, the diet plays the most important role in the progression of the disease because all food and drinks pass through the liver to metabolize.

From the study of hepatitis C patients, Dr. Banh Vu Dien found that men over 40 years of age infected with hepatitis C virus accounted for a higher rate. In addition, those who use more than 50g of alcohol per day, the time of progression of hepatitis C virus is often pushed faster.

Not only heavy addicts but also devastating liver can also occur with cases of alcohol use with the "social" nature. Instead of chronic hepatitis turning to cirrhosis and liver cancer from 20-30 years, the time of people who drink alcohol is only 5-10 years.

Every day, people with chronic liver disease must also avoid using iron from red meats, animal liver, not even using iron pots, pots, pots and pans to cook. A normal diet contains about 10-20mg of iron and the body only absorbs 1 - 2mg of iron / day. Excess iron can cause additional liver damage, even reducing the patient's response during treatment.

A progressive fibrosis of the liver can lead to an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen causing an ascites, also known as ascites.

If the patient has ascites hepatitis C, only 1 mg of salt is taken into the body, resulting in 200ml solution will accumulate in the body. Salt intake should be less than 1g / day.

Because virus C often causes anorexia, patients should eat small meals, drink enough water and exercise slightly to eat better and tolerate food more easily. First of all, the patient must consult with the doctor before any diet and an exercise program.

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