The risk of hepatitis C is more terrible
Family in hepatitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B has already “known,” while hepatitis C was “kept in purdah has failed to knowledge,” did not arouse people’s attention. In fact, hepatitis C and hepatitis A, hepatitis B viral hepatitis are all the same, although the clinical symptoms relatively light, but also likely to develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer, seriously affecting people’s health. Recently, reporter on the hepatitis C problem on Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University infectious disease specialist Dean Professor Wang Yuming Branch had an exclusive interview.
Hepatitis C: potential risk of even worse
- Visit Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University infectious disease specialist branch of Dean Professor Wang Yuming
Professor Wang Yuming, director of physicians, doctoral tutor. Current Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University infectious disease specialist branch president. At the same time as a branch of the Chinese Medical Association infectious diseases, biotechnology, clinical application of the Commission and China Association of Integrative Medicine Infectious Diseases Branch, Vice Chairman of China Institute of Infectious Diseases, Liver failure and artificial liver, deputy head of the school, the military infectious disease special committee vice chairman of the Chongqing Municipal Committee, chairman of infectious disease professionals. In the medical, teaching, research work more than 30 years, has accumulated a wealth of clinical experience. Main research directions: severe hepatitis / liver failure; viral hepatitis (mainly HBV and HCV) viruses and host genetic variation; bio-artificial liver.
Now, when we are still no cure for hepatitis B to worry about, the hepatitis C has also been quietly against a lot of people lurking in the body, against the people’s health. According to incomplete statistics, China has hepatitis C antibody-positive patients account for about 3.2% of the country’s population, or up to 40 million people as much as 80% of these people are chronic hepatitis C, but the clinical about 40% to 70 % of the hepatitis C virus infection is usually sought treatment for other diseases when it was accidentally discovered.
Neglect: prevention and treatment of taboo hepatitis C
In 2004, CCTV has been done by an on hepatitis C programs. Who participated in the investigation of the people, never heard of or do not know who actually hepatitis C up to 50%, while the others had heard of hepatitis C, but its not understand. Over the past two years, the various phenomena indicate that the situation was still no significant improvement. Faced with this situation, as a liver disease for many years been engaged in research and prevention and treatment experts, Professor Wang Yuming am very worried. Therefore, an interview, Professor Wang first emphasized point is – “ignore is the hepatitis C prevention and treatment of the taboo.”
Professor Wang explained, no obvious symptoms of hepatitis, hepatitis C is different from other important characteristics. Those infected often a decade or longer before being found that most hepatitis C patients in the acute stage of infection no obvious symptoms, with the healthy person. In the U.S., the diagnosis of HCV infection rate was only 20% of these patients were diagnosed at the time most of the ten years after infection. Therefore, an HCV infected person, even an annual physical examination, but because of anti-HCV is not a physical item, as long as he (she) has no symptoms, may be completely ignored, thus leading to the timely detection of disease, delay in treatment. Of course, in this process, there are many doctors underestimate the phenomenon of hepatitis C infection, many clinicians to the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C are also not familiar with.
”For these reasons, either directly or indirectly lead to the neglect of people’s hepatitis C, but this neglect is ‘fatal’, and it led to a certain extent, a considerable part of the patients with hepatitis C is not correct, and complete treatment, eventually leading to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure occurring. On the other hand, I do not know if they got sick, it is likely to spread to family members or other groups. ”
Attention: from the understanding of the beginning
Should pay attention to hepatitis C, we must start from the understanding. In 1995, Professor Wang Yuming went to the University of California and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Center study of hepatitis C hepatitis C pathogenesis.
Professor Wang said, hepatitis C and hepatitis A, hepatitis B belong to the same viral hepatitis. Hepatitis C and hepatitis B and HIV transmission, as transmitted through blood, not through the daily life, such as food, air and other communication.
”Since the majority of hepatitis C in patients with early asymptomatic or mild symptoms and can easily be ignored; the same time, 60% ~ 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C clear the virus, are not self-develop into chronic hepatitis C, some patients with chronic hepatitis C by the progress made to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and life-threatening, so we very much need for early detection of HCV. ”
”Early no symptoms, then how can early detection of it?” Asked the reporter could not wait.
Professor Wang said: “I’ve always advocated hepatitis C tests as a routine outpatient examination. Even if its people who consider themselves healthy, if have had history of blood transfusion, blood products used, or dirty syringes, there have been dirty sex, tattoo , Wen-mei and other experiences, or frequent contact with blood, such as health care workers and beauticians and so on, may make a hepatitis C antibody test done. ”
”In addition,” Professor Wang added, “annual check-ups of people, if conditional, we might add a Hepatitis C checks.”
Treatment: can not wait for
Currently, the United States and Japan, hepatitis C liver disease has become a high mortality disease. Because hepatitis C diagnosis of occult and low, low treatment rate, it led to serious consequences on the rise. This phenomenon has also been in China horizon.
For hepatitis C treatment, Professor Wang Yuming pointed out that the anti-viral therapy is currently the only way to hepatitis C treatment. Only the anti-viral treatment, in order to block the hepatitis C evolving process. And specific methods of treatment currently recommended combination therapy with interferon plus ribavirin.
Interferon is divided into two kinds of long-acting interferon and general interferon. Common interferon injections every other day 1, and ribavirin combination therapy, the effect slightly worse than the long-acting interferon combined with ribavirin, but the price lower. 24 to 48 weeks after treatment of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (ribonucleic acid) sustained negative conversion rate of about 30% ~ 40%; while effective in the treatment of patients, liver fibrosis, significant progress has been slow.
Long-acting interferon called pegylated interferon, a weekly injection of a second, combined with ribavirin treatment, HCV RNA negative conversion rate continued up to 70%, and can be used for general resistance by interferon. Thus, long-acting interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C in recent years, was listed as the preferred treatment for patients, not only can improve the quality of life of patients, but also can reduce cirrhosis, liver cancer from happening.
”If you can not be applied ribavirin in patients treated with interferon therapy can be used alone, but sustained HCV RNA negative conversion rate of only 10%. And the HCV genotype is different from before treatment in patients with different levels of serum HCV RNA have an impact on the efficacy of . ”
At this point, Professor Wang to draw attention to the adverse reactions of interferon: “Interferon can cause fever, headache and other flu-like symptoms, generally with the extension of treatment time to reduce and disappeared, it may appear rash, neutropenia, alopecia , depression, hyperthyroidism, etc. during the treatment are subject to regular review; ribavirin at the beginning of the application within a few weeks can cause hemolysis, but also lead to fetal abnormalities, so the treatment of female patients of childbearing age to take contraceptive measures during the period. ”
Professor Wang also emphasized that hepatitis C patients should look for expert diagnosis and treatment. He said: “Through many years of studying abroad, combined with clinical practice, I have summed up a set of hospital diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C, in the clinic on a different treatment for different individuals, to good effect.” So far, treatment of infectious diseases branch a very high success rate with chronic hepatitis C, as long as patients with long-term economic conditions, permit and in accordance with interferon plus ribavirin therapy indication, will be entitled to good effect.
Prevention: From now on
Although the use of interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy hepatitis C can obtain a better efficacy, but Professor Wang Yuming stressed that early prevention is still the key to hepatitis C prevention and treatment.
Professor Wang said: “Managing hepatitis C prevention, specifically, in the following seven aspects: First, the strict screening blood donors, blood donation to avoid high-risk groups. Secondly, the right can not be rehabilitated in intravenous drug users, as far as possible in order to persuade them to way to replace the injection of non-injecting means of delivery, not sharing syringes with others. Third, the medical unit of the use of disposable syringes, medical devices must be disinfected. Fourth, to promote monogamy, sexual disorder should regularly check the history and strengthen management; proposal hepatitis C patients with a spouse or sexual partner to use condoms; universal hepatitis C prevention knowledge to young people. Fifthly, hepatitis C can be transmitted within the family, family members should avoid sharing razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and hair appliances, etc. but the common meals, the same with the utensils in general there is no risk of transmission. 6th, hepatitis C virus can be transmitted through the placenta and delivery of HCV RNA-positive mothers, should be avoided during pregnancy puncture operation, to minimize the fetus during delivery opportunities for maternal and neonatal exposure; antiviral drugs should be used before pregnancy. Seventh, right needle, a thorough disinfection of medical devices. ”
After the interview, Professor Wang hopes that the media should engage in more publicity for hepatitis C, so that public awareness of the dangers of this disease, called on people to refrain from discrimination against hepatitis C virus in patients with more of a love, so that they can establish the confidence of disease-fighting .