i heard on ET and on other fourms that she is gonna die of hepatitis b or c(dont remember which)
- Goto:
- Go
Jackster 21 years ago
Yes, Pam Anderson will die, eventually. Her silicon breats, though, will long outlast her. I'm sure there is a doctor, nurse, or EMT who visits this site and can tell you for sure, but I don't believe, as long as it is treated, that most hepatitis, b or c, will kill you.
MonkeyMan 21 years ago
Hep B can be treated but eventually even with treatment Hep C will kill you. it destroys your liver.
lil_winker 21 years ago
Hepatitis is a general term that means inflammation of the liver. This inflammation can be caused by infection. It can also be caused by exposure to alcohol, certain medications, chemicals, poisons, and other toxins, or by other diseases. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the many viruses that can cause inflammation of the liver.
Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with HCV is referred to as hepatitis C.
If the inflammation is not reversed, it becomes chronic (ongoing, long term) and can cause chronic liver disease, which can be serious or even fatal.
At least 75% of people infected with hepatis C develop chronic hepatitis C.
If the disease progresses to the point at which the liver begins to fail (end stage), the only treatment is liver transplantation.
Hepatitis C is an increasing public health concern in the United States and throughout the world.
HCV is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and the most common cause of chronic viral hepatitis.
It is believed to be the cause of about 15-20% of all cases of acute (new, short term) viral hepatitis and half of all cases of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer.
About 4 million people in the United States have antibodies to HCV, meaning they have been infected with the virus at some point; as many as half do not know it.
Causes
HCV is not related to the other viruses that cause hepatitis. Like the other hepatitis viruses, however, it is contagious. It is transmitted mainly by contact with blood or blood products.
Sharing of contaminated needles among IV drug users is the most common mode of transmission. Using a needle to inject drugs, even once many years ago, is a risk factor hepatitis C.
Transfusion with infected blood or blood products, hemodialysis, or transplantation of organs from infected donors was once a common mode of transmission, but this is now rare.
In 1992, a test became available for checking blood in blood banks for HCV. Blood and blood products are now tested to ensure that they are not contaminated. Cases of hepatitis C related to transfusion, hemodialysis, or transplantation have dropped to almost zero since then. Transfusion of blood or blood products before 1992 is a risk factor for hepatitis C.
Less common causes of HCV transmission
From mother to infant at or around the time of childbirth
Through sexual intercourse with an infected person: Having multiple sex partners is a risk factor.
Needle sticks with HCV-contaminated blood: This is confined to health care workers. The risk of developing HCV infection after a needle stick is about 10%.
You cannot get hepatitis C by living with, being near, or touching someone with the disease. You can get the disease by sharing a razor, nail clippers, or other such items with an infected person.
The source of transmission is unknown in about 10% of people with acute hepatitis C and in about 30% of people with chronic hepatitis C.
Symptoms
Although hepatitis C damages the liver, 80% of people with the disease do not have symptoms. In those who do, symptoms may not appear for 10-20 years, or even longer. Even then, the symptoms usually come and go and are mild and vague. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the damage may be very serious.
A minority of people have symptoms during the early acute phase of the infection. These symptoms typically develop 5-12 weeks after exposure to HCV. Some people describe the symptoms as being like stomach flu. The symptoms may last a few weeks or months.
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Pain over the liver (on the right side in front, just under the rib cage)
Jaundice - A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow
Dark-colored urine (may look like cola or tea)
Stools very pale in color (grayish or clay colored)
Prolonged nausea and vomiting can cause dehydration. If you have been vomiting repeatedly, you may notice the following symptoms:
Fatigue or weakness
Confusion or difficulty concentrating
Headache
Not urinating
Irritability
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver in many people, a condition traditionally associated with alcoholism. Cirrhosis is a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue, then scarlike hardening. As this happens, the liver gradually begins to fail, or lose its ability to carry out its normal functions. Eventually, symptoms develop. Symptoms of cirrhosis may include the following:
Fluid retention causing swelling of the belly (ascites), legs, or whole body
Persistent jaundice
Fatigue
Disturbances in sleeping
Itchy skin
Loss of appetite, weight loss, wasting
Vomiting with blood in the vomit
Mental disturbances such as confusion, lethargy, extreme sleepiness, or hallucinations (hepatic encephalopathy)
When to Seek Medical Care
Call your health care provider in any of the following situations. He or she will probably want to see you.
You have nausea and vomiting that does not go away in 1-2 days.
Your skin or eyes turn yellow, or your urine is dark-brownish in color.
You are having pain in your abdomen (belly).
You think that you might have been exposed to someone with hepatitis or think that you might be at risk for any reason.
You have other medical problems and think that you might have hepatitis.
If you cannot reach your health care provider, or if you have any of the following symptoms, go to a hospital emergency department without delay.
You are vomiting and cannot keep down any fluids.
You are having severe pain or high fever.
You are becoming confused, delirious, or difficult to awaken.
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider will interview you about your illness. You will be asked about your symptoms and about any exposures to hepatitis viruses.
If your doctor determines that you may be at risk for contracting hepatitis, you will have blood drawn. The laboratory will be able to determine whether you have been exposed to HCV and certain other hepatitis viruses.
Several tests are available for this, but the most widely used test detects antibodies to these viruses. Antibodies are substances made by your body's immune system to defend against a specific infection. You won't have the antibody unless you have been infected with HCV or the test was performed so soon after exposure that your immune system did not have time to make the antibody.
Tests are also available to identify which of the 6 known strains and 50 subtypes of the virus is causing the infection. This can help determine the best treatment plan.
The laboratory will also do several tests to determine how well your liver is functioning.
Other tests will probably be done to check the effects of the infection on other body systems, such as the kidneys.
If you have had a large amount of vomiting or have not been able to take in liquids, your blood electrolytes will be checked to see if they are in balance.
Liver biopsy is the ultimate test in hepatitis C. It is not necessary for diagnosis but gives useful information about the stage of disease (the amount of liver damage that has already occurred).
Treatment
|Self-Care at Home|
If you have symptoms, these measures will help you feel better faster.
Take it easy; get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Do not drink alcohol of any kind, including beer, wine, and hard liquor.
Avoid medicines and substances that can cause harm to the liver such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other preparations that contain acetaminophen.
Avoid prolonged, vigorous exercise until symptoms start to improve.
|Medical Treatment|
If you are dehydrated, your health care provider may prescribe IV fluids to help you feel better.
If you are experiencing significant nausea and vomiting, you will receive medicines to help control these symptoms.
If your symptoms are well controlled, you can be cared for at home. If dehydration or other symptoms are severe or if you are showing signs of confusion or delirium, then you may be hospitalized.
The treatment that has shown the most promise in chronic hepatitis C is an agent called pegylated interferon alpha. This agent is often combined with an antiviral drug called ribavirin.
Decisions to start medications for treatment of hepatitis C are usually made in consultation with a gastroenterologist or liver specialist (hepatologist).
The decision is based on the results of lab tests of liver function, on results of tests for HCV and liver biopsy, and on the person's age and general medical condition.
Certain medical conditions preclude the use of interferon.
Depression and certain other mental and neurologic disorders
Active alcohol or drug abuse
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or psoriasis
Low blood iron (anemia) or blood cell counts
Cirrhosis that is severe enough to cause symptoms such as jaundice, wasting, fluid retention that causes swelling, or mental disturbances
|Medications|
Interferon alpha: Interferon is a protein that the body makes naturally in response to viral infection to fight the infection. It also has other actions in the body and has been used to treat a variety of diseases such as leukemias and other types of cancers and multiple sclerosis.
Pegylation describes a chemical process that makes the interferon last longer in the body.
Levels of the older type of interferon were difficult to regulate in the body. The drug had to be given several times a week. The pegylated type has to be given only once a week and maintains a steady level in the blood between doses.
This is a considerable advantage because interferon has to be taken by shot and has many side effects.
More importantly, though, the pegylated formulation is more effective against HCV.
Because interferon can be harmful to an unborn child, persons taking interferon must practice effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months afterward.
Ribavirin: Ribavirin is like an antibiotic for certain viruses. By itself, ribavirin has little effect on HCV, but interferon increases its potency. Ribavirin is usually given with interferon unless there is a particular reason not to give it to a specific individual. It has to be taken every day in 2 doses but is a pill rather than a shot.
The combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin works better in more people than interferon alone. Treatment usually lasts for 24 weeks (combination therapy) or for 48 weeks (interferon only). During treatment, you will have blood drawn every few weeks to test the effects on your liver, kidneys, and blood.
Treatment is followed by a period of no treatment in which the person's response to the treatment is checked.
This is measured by the amount of HCV RNA (similar to DNA) in the person's blood.
The level of HCV RNA goes down to nearly zero during treatment in about 70% of people.
Treatment is considered successful if the RNA level remains near zero for at least 6 months after treatment. This occurs in about 55% of people treated with combination therapy and about 35% of people treated with interferon only.
Most people tolerate these drugs fairly well, although side effects are common.
The side effects range from mild to debilitating.
If they are severe enough, the person may have to stop taking one or both drugs, or take a lower dose.
Lower doses generally do not work as well against the disease.
Side effects of interferon can be bothersome in some people. Sometimes the symptoms are described as being like having the flu. The side effects often get better over time as treatment continues. Common side effects include the following:
Fatigue
Low iron in the blood (anemia) or low blood cell counts
Muscle aches
Nausea and vomiting
Mild fevers
Depression
Irritability
Headaches
Weight loss
Interferon can have other, less common side effects. You should discuss these with your health care provider before starting treatment.
The side effects of ribavirin can be severe enough that the person has to switch to interferon-only therapy. Like interferon, ribavirin can be harmful to an unborn child, and persons taking ribavirin must practice effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months afterward. Common side effects include the following:
Fatigue
Anemia
Irritability
Itching
Skin rash
Sinus congestion and cough
|Surgery|
For end-stage liver disease, the only treatment that will stop the disease is liver transplantation.
|Other Therapy|
A significant number of people with hepatitis C cannot take interferon and ribavirin or cannot tolerate the side effects. In others, the drugs simply don't work on the virus. Research is ongoing to find other therapies for these people.
Alternative therapies now in use for hepatitis C include several different herbs. The most promising is milk thistle.
The active ingredient in milk thistle is thought to be a substance called silymarin.
Studies done in animals suggest that silymarin may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and promote liver health in various ways.
Milk thistle has not been studied specifically in people with hepatitis C, but it has been tested in people with cirrhosis and in people with chronic hepatitis. Unfortunately, results are not conclusive; some studies showed a positive effect, others did not.
Milk thistle is available as capsules but not as tea.
Other herbs that may have a positive effect are licorice and ginseng. These herbs are thought to promote liver health and to boost the body's ability to fight the infection. Extreme care should be taken with licorice, however, as it can cause high blood pressure or even heart failure or cardiac arrest (heart stopping) if taken at too high a dose.
Other herbs may be taken as complementary therapy to help relieve the side effects of interferon. These include ginger (to reduce nausea) and St. John's wort (to relieve depression).
Like all herbal preparations, the manufacture and contents of these products is not standardized in the United States and is not regulated by any government body.
The potency and purity vary from product to product and are not predictable.
Just because herbs are natural products does not mean they are always safe or helpful.
Take herbal products and supplements with as much care as you would take any medicine.
Talk to your health care provider if you are taking any herbs or supplements or are considering taking any.
None of these alternative and complementary therapies has been proven to work in any scientific study. They are not recommended by any medical authority as an alternative to interferon and ribavirin in people able to take these medications.
Next Steps
|Follow-up|
Follow all instructions that your health care provider gives you. A healthy lifestyle is more important than ever.
Eat a varied, healthy diet, take part in some physical activity daily, and get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of water and other noncaffeinated fluids to stay well hydrated.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) that can be harmful to the liver.
If you have symptoms, avoid prolonged or vigorous physical exercise until your symptoms improve.
If symptoms worsen at any time, contact your doctor.
The better you take care of yourself, the more likely you will be one of the many individuals who do well for many years.
|Prevention|
Right now, there is no vaccine for the prevention of HCV transmission. The best means of preventing transmission of HCV is to prevent the donation of infected blood and organs and to avoid contact with semen.
Avoiding alcohol and drugs that can damage the liver may help slow the rate of progression of the disease.
|Outlook|
Hepatitis C varies greatly in its long-term effects.
Some people never develop severe complications of the disease.
At least 75% of people infected with HCV develop chronic hepatitis C. At least 30% of these people go on to develop cirrhosis. Chronic liver problems cause 10,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver failure. If damage is severe enough, liver transplantation is the only treatment.
Cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis C may lead to liver cancer.
A small number of people with hepatitis C develop complications outside the liver. These may affect the skin and connective tissues of the body, the blood or bone marrow, the muscles, the joints, or the kidneys
Inflammation of the liver caused by infection with HCV is referred to as hepatitis C.
If the inflammation is not reversed, it becomes chronic (ongoing, long term) and can cause chronic liver disease, which can be serious or even fatal.
At least 75% of people infected with hepatis C develop chronic hepatitis C.
If the disease progresses to the point at which the liver begins to fail (end stage), the only treatment is liver transplantation.
Hepatitis C is an increasing public health concern in the United States and throughout the world.
HCV is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and the most common cause of chronic viral hepatitis.
It is believed to be the cause of about 15-20% of all cases of acute (new, short term) viral hepatitis and half of all cases of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer.
About 4 million people in the United States have antibodies to HCV, meaning they have been infected with the virus at some point; as many as half do not know it.
Causes
HCV is not related to the other viruses that cause hepatitis. Like the other hepatitis viruses, however, it is contagious. It is transmitted mainly by contact with blood or blood products.
Sharing of contaminated needles among IV drug users is the most common mode of transmission. Using a needle to inject drugs, even once many years ago, is a risk factor hepatitis C.
Transfusion with infected blood or blood products, hemodialysis, or transplantation of organs from infected donors was once a common mode of transmission, but this is now rare.
In 1992, a test became available for checking blood in blood banks for HCV. Blood and blood products are now tested to ensure that they are not contaminated. Cases of hepatitis C related to transfusion, hemodialysis, or transplantation have dropped to almost zero since then. Transfusion of blood or blood products before 1992 is a risk factor for hepatitis C.
Less common causes of HCV transmission
From mother to infant at or around the time of childbirth
Through sexual intercourse with an infected person: Having multiple sex partners is a risk factor.
Needle sticks with HCV-contaminated blood: This is confined to health care workers. The risk of developing HCV infection after a needle stick is about 10%.
You cannot get hepatitis C by living with, being near, or touching someone with the disease. You can get the disease by sharing a razor, nail clippers, or other such items with an infected person.
The source of transmission is unknown in about 10% of people with acute hepatitis C and in about 30% of people with chronic hepatitis C.
Symptoms
Although hepatitis C damages the liver, 80% of people with the disease do not have symptoms. In those who do, symptoms may not appear for 10-20 years, or even longer. Even then, the symptoms usually come and go and are mild and vague. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the damage may be very serious.
A minority of people have symptoms during the early acute phase of the infection. These symptoms typically develop 5-12 weeks after exposure to HCV. Some people describe the symptoms as being like stomach flu. The symptoms may last a few weeks or months.
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Pain over the liver (on the right side in front, just under the rib cage)
Jaundice - A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow
Dark-colored urine (may look like cola or tea)
Stools very pale in color (grayish or clay colored)
Prolonged nausea and vomiting can cause dehydration. If you have been vomiting repeatedly, you may notice the following symptoms:
Fatigue or weakness
Confusion or difficulty concentrating
Headache
Not urinating
Irritability
Chronic hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver in many people, a condition traditionally associated with alcoholism. Cirrhosis is a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue, then scarlike hardening. As this happens, the liver gradually begins to fail, or lose its ability to carry out its normal functions. Eventually, symptoms develop. Symptoms of cirrhosis may include the following:
Fluid retention causing swelling of the belly (ascites), legs, or whole body
Persistent jaundice
Fatigue
Disturbances in sleeping
Itchy skin
Loss of appetite, weight loss, wasting
Vomiting with blood in the vomit
Mental disturbances such as confusion, lethargy, extreme sleepiness, or hallucinations (hepatic encephalopathy)
When to Seek Medical Care
Call your health care provider in any of the following situations. He or she will probably want to see you.
You have nausea and vomiting that does not go away in 1-2 days.
Your skin or eyes turn yellow, or your urine is dark-brownish in color.
You are having pain in your abdomen (belly).
You think that you might have been exposed to someone with hepatitis or think that you might be at risk for any reason.
You have other medical problems and think that you might have hepatitis.
If you cannot reach your health care provider, or if you have any of the following symptoms, go to a hospital emergency department without delay.
You are vomiting and cannot keep down any fluids.
You are having severe pain or high fever.
You are becoming confused, delirious, or difficult to awaken.
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider will interview you about your illness. You will be asked about your symptoms and about any exposures to hepatitis viruses.
If your doctor determines that you may be at risk for contracting hepatitis, you will have blood drawn. The laboratory will be able to determine whether you have been exposed to HCV and certain other hepatitis viruses.
Several tests are available for this, but the most widely used test detects antibodies to these viruses. Antibodies are substances made by your body's immune system to defend against a specific infection. You won't have the antibody unless you have been infected with HCV or the test was performed so soon after exposure that your immune system did not have time to make the antibody.
Tests are also available to identify which of the 6 known strains and 50 subtypes of the virus is causing the infection. This can help determine the best treatment plan.
The laboratory will also do several tests to determine how well your liver is functioning.
Other tests will probably be done to check the effects of the infection on other body systems, such as the kidneys.
If you have had a large amount of vomiting or have not been able to take in liquids, your blood electrolytes will be checked to see if they are in balance.
Liver biopsy is the ultimate test in hepatitis C. It is not necessary for diagnosis but gives useful information about the stage of disease (the amount of liver damage that has already occurred).
Treatment
|Self-Care at Home|
If you have symptoms, these measures will help you feel better faster.
Take it easy; get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Do not drink alcohol of any kind, including beer, wine, and hard liquor.
Avoid medicines and substances that can cause harm to the liver such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other preparations that contain acetaminophen.
Avoid prolonged, vigorous exercise until symptoms start to improve.
|Medical Treatment|
If you are dehydrated, your health care provider may prescribe IV fluids to help you feel better.
If you are experiencing significant nausea and vomiting, you will receive medicines to help control these symptoms.
If your symptoms are well controlled, you can be cared for at home. If dehydration or other symptoms are severe or if you are showing signs of confusion or delirium, then you may be hospitalized.
The treatment that has shown the most promise in chronic hepatitis C is an agent called pegylated interferon alpha. This agent is often combined with an antiviral drug called ribavirin.
Decisions to start medications for treatment of hepatitis C are usually made in consultation with a gastroenterologist or liver specialist (hepatologist).
The decision is based on the results of lab tests of liver function, on results of tests for HCV and liver biopsy, and on the person's age and general medical condition.
Certain medical conditions preclude the use of interferon.
Depression and certain other mental and neurologic disorders
Active alcohol or drug abuse
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or psoriasis
Low blood iron (anemia) or blood cell counts
Cirrhosis that is severe enough to cause symptoms such as jaundice, wasting, fluid retention that causes swelling, or mental disturbances
|Medications|
Interferon alpha: Interferon is a protein that the body makes naturally in response to viral infection to fight the infection. It also has other actions in the body and has been used to treat a variety of diseases such as leukemias and other types of cancers and multiple sclerosis.
Pegylation describes a chemical process that makes the interferon last longer in the body.
Levels of the older type of interferon were difficult to regulate in the body. The drug had to be given several times a week. The pegylated type has to be given only once a week and maintains a steady level in the blood between doses.
This is a considerable advantage because interferon has to be taken by shot and has many side effects.
More importantly, though, the pegylated formulation is more effective against HCV.
Because interferon can be harmful to an unborn child, persons taking interferon must practice effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months afterward.
Ribavirin: Ribavirin is like an antibiotic for certain viruses. By itself, ribavirin has little effect on HCV, but interferon increases its potency. Ribavirin is usually given with interferon unless there is a particular reason not to give it to a specific individual. It has to be taken every day in 2 doses but is a pill rather than a shot.
The combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin works better in more people than interferon alone. Treatment usually lasts for 24 weeks (combination therapy) or for 48 weeks (interferon only). During treatment, you will have blood drawn every few weeks to test the effects on your liver, kidneys, and blood.
Treatment is followed by a period of no treatment in which the person's response to the treatment is checked.
This is measured by the amount of HCV RNA (similar to DNA) in the person's blood.
The level of HCV RNA goes down to nearly zero during treatment in about 70% of people.
Treatment is considered successful if the RNA level remains near zero for at least 6 months after treatment. This occurs in about 55% of people treated with combination therapy and about 35% of people treated with interferon only.
Most people tolerate these drugs fairly well, although side effects are common.
The side effects range from mild to debilitating.
If they are severe enough, the person may have to stop taking one or both drugs, or take a lower dose.
Lower doses generally do not work as well against the disease.
Side effects of interferon can be bothersome in some people. Sometimes the symptoms are described as being like having the flu. The side effects often get better over time as treatment continues. Common side effects include the following:
Fatigue
Low iron in the blood (anemia) or low blood cell counts
Muscle aches
Nausea and vomiting
Mild fevers
Depression
Irritability
Headaches
Weight loss
Interferon can have other, less common side effects. You should discuss these with your health care provider before starting treatment.
The side effects of ribavirin can be severe enough that the person has to switch to interferon-only therapy. Like interferon, ribavirin can be harmful to an unborn child, and persons taking ribavirin must practice effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months afterward. Common side effects include the following:
Fatigue
Anemia
Irritability
Itching
Skin rash
Sinus congestion and cough
|Surgery|
For end-stage liver disease, the only treatment that will stop the disease is liver transplantation.
|Other Therapy|
A significant number of people with hepatitis C cannot take interferon and ribavirin or cannot tolerate the side effects. In others, the drugs simply don't work on the virus. Research is ongoing to find other therapies for these people.
Alternative therapies now in use for hepatitis C include several different herbs. The most promising is milk thistle.
The active ingredient in milk thistle is thought to be a substance called silymarin.
Studies done in animals suggest that silymarin may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and promote liver health in various ways.
Milk thistle has not been studied specifically in people with hepatitis C, but it has been tested in people with cirrhosis and in people with chronic hepatitis. Unfortunately, results are not conclusive; some studies showed a positive effect, others did not.
Milk thistle is available as capsules but not as tea.
Other herbs that may have a positive effect are licorice and ginseng. These herbs are thought to promote liver health and to boost the body's ability to fight the infection. Extreme care should be taken with licorice, however, as it can cause high blood pressure or even heart failure or cardiac arrest (heart stopping) if taken at too high a dose.
Other herbs may be taken as complementary therapy to help relieve the side effects of interferon. These include ginger (to reduce nausea) and St. John's wort (to relieve depression).
Like all herbal preparations, the manufacture and contents of these products is not standardized in the United States and is not regulated by any government body.
The potency and purity vary from product to product and are not predictable.
Just because herbs are natural products does not mean they are always safe or helpful.
Take herbal products and supplements with as much care as you would take any medicine.
Talk to your health care provider if you are taking any herbs or supplements or are considering taking any.
None of these alternative and complementary therapies has been proven to work in any scientific study. They are not recommended by any medical authority as an alternative to interferon and ribavirin in people able to take these medications.
Next Steps
|Follow-up|
Follow all instructions that your health care provider gives you. A healthy lifestyle is more important than ever.
Eat a varied, healthy diet, take part in some physical activity daily, and get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of water and other noncaffeinated fluids to stay well hydrated.
Avoid alcoholic beverages and medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) that can be harmful to the liver.
If you have symptoms, avoid prolonged or vigorous physical exercise until your symptoms improve.
If symptoms worsen at any time, contact your doctor.
The better you take care of yourself, the more likely you will be one of the many individuals who do well for many years.
|Prevention|
Right now, there is no vaccine for the prevention of HCV transmission. The best means of preventing transmission of HCV is to prevent the donation of infected blood and organs and to avoid contact with semen.
Avoiding alcohol and drugs that can damage the liver may help slow the rate of progression of the disease.
|Outlook|
Hepatitis C varies greatly in its long-term effects.
Some people never develop severe complications of the disease.
At least 75% of people infected with HCV develop chronic hepatitis C. At least 30% of these people go on to develop cirrhosis. Chronic liver problems cause 10,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis C can lead to liver failure. If damage is severe enough, liver transplantation is the only treatment.
Cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis C may lead to liver cancer.
A small number of people with hepatitis C develop complications outside the liver. These may affect the skin and connective tissues of the body, the blood or bone marrow, the muscles, the joints, or the kidneys
lil_winker 21 years ago
My friend has it. He caught it in Viet Nam from a blood transfusion in a field hospital. He is slowly dying...Even tho he came home from the nam 34 years ago..the nam is still inside of him....WAR SUCKS!! It is a personal thing to me..so I find out as much as i can about it
Senja 21 years ago
No has got it When they put a tattoo an use one needle for both. So Now she got hepatitis and it is possible that she dies in 10 years. There are some treatments in a lab stage and they are very positive, The test animals (monkeys)where cured. So i hope she stays a little bit longer than ten years.
Vamp 21 years ago
Pam said she got it from Tommy and that she will die in 5 years.
well atleast we'll be rid of Tommy lee also..
well atleast we'll be rid of Tommy lee also..
Jackster 21 years ago
I predict Pam dies on October 22, 2006. Death by silcone, for some mysterious reason one of breasts will explode and the force will kill her.
- Goto:
- Go
