Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was isolated in 1989, at
which
time it was referred to as non-A, non-B hepatitis. It typically is
transmitted through contact with infected blood. Infection
may cause
mild or severe illness that lasts several weeks or a lifetime; in
the
early 21st century an estimated 71 million people worldwide
had
chronic HCV infection. About 80 percent of those who
become
infected are asymptomatic; those who do show symptoms
may
experience a flulike illness, with fatigue, nausea, vomiting
etc.
Approximately 60 to 80 percent of chronic infections progress
to
chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Alcoholics
who are infected with hepatitis C are more prone to develop
cirrhosis. Treatment for hepatitis C involves a combination of
antiviral medications, namely alpha interferon and ribavirin;
however, only about half of those receiving these drugs
respond.
Other antivirals, such as boceprevir and telaprevir, may be
used
along with interferon and ribavirin in patients who are
infected with
a form of hepatitis C known as hepatitis C genotype 1; this
therapy
typically is reserved for patients in whom the combination of
interferon and ribavirin alone is ineffective. Hepatitis C
infection can
be prevented by avoiding unsafe blood products, needle
sharing, and
unprotected sex and by exercising caution when seeking
tattoos or
body piercings. Despite extensive research, a vaccine to
prevent
HCV infection has remained elusive (difficult to find).
Hepatitis D: Infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV), also
called the
delta agent, can occur only in association with HBV infection,
because HDV requires HBV to replicate. Infection with HDV
may
114
Dr. Tehseen Javed
Department of Environmental Sciences
occur at the same time infection with HBV occurs, or HDV
may infect a person already infected with HBV. The latter
situation appears to give rise to a more serious condition,
leading to cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. Alpha interferon
is the only treatment for HDV infection. Preventing infection
with HBV also prevents HDV infection
