How can hep c be treated?

When it comes to treating hepatitis C, you might be thinking “Can Hep C be fully treated?. Despite the absence of vaccines for Hepatitis C (Hep C), Hep C treatments are able to decrease the viral amount to the extent where it can no longer be found. In this regard, the virus is cured when you cannot find it in your blood 3 months after the treatment completion.  

Although Hep C is regarded as one of the most severe hepatitis viruses, it becomes more controllable than it was previously. Here we have provided you with a guide on Hep C symptoms, how hep c can be cured as well as frequently asked questions about the virus. 

Does hep c have symptoms? 

There are hepatitis C symptoms but the majority of people do not develop them when they first contract the virus of hepatitis C.  

However, if you do have symptoms, they are as follows: tiredness, joint pain, itchy skin, dark urine, painful muscles, belly pain or even yellowish eyes and skin.  

How long before hep c symptoms show?  

It could be up to 15 years or longer prior to the diagnosis of the virus.     

Can hep c be treated twice? 

According to Dr. Edward Block of Medicinenet.com, Hepatitis C can be treated twice if you were treated with a single agent of interferon first, you could be retreated with a combination of interferon and ribavirin. 

With the combination, we can eliminate the virus for good with the retreatment success rate of up to 40 percent.  

Can hep c be fully cured? 

Hepatitis can be fully cured or patients are considered cured forever if as a patient you are free of the disease. This means that you have no detectable virus as measured by HCV RNA blood test at six months after completing the treatment. 

What does hep c treatment cost? 

A Sovaldi pill is typically priced at USD 1,000. Full 12-week treatment costs approximately USD 84,000. The cost of their alternatives are also high for 12-week treatment with Mavyret being USD 39,600, Zepatier being USD 54,600, Technivie being USD 76,653 and Harvoni being USD 94,500.   

However, Not every hepatitis C case will need to be treated with these pricey medications. In accordance with CDC, approximately a quarter of people with hepatitis C, do not need medicinal treatment because the virus disappears by itself within about three months. However, if your condition of hepatitis C is still there, your doctor will make up a decision whether you need any further treatment or not. 

Can hep c be cured while pregnant? 

During pregnancy, you won’t likely be treated for hepatitis C as the medicine can lead to birth defects of your baby. 

With reference to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), your doctor will not treat your hepatitis C condition until following the birth of your baby. This is simply due to the danger of hepatitis C medicine to your baby.   

Can hep c be cured in babies? 

Typically, hepatitis C clears by itself two fifths of all cases before your child turns two. In other cases, the disappearance happens when your kid becomes seven. 

Your doctor may call it a chronic hepatitis C infection as long as hepatitis C still stays there after your baby’s second birthday.  

In general, the medical condition results in small liver issues including cirrhosis or scarring of the liver. Interferon and ribavirin are recommended medicines for kids under 12 if he or she really needs to be treated. Despite that, these medications cause side effects on your kid. These side effects include chills, depression, fatigue and fever. 

Takeaway 

On the whole, look after yourself well is a key element of the cure for hepatitis C. In some cases, people who have hepatitis C feel no change in them, whereas others have an illness, a fatigue or even depression. It is best to keep healthy by regularly doing physical exercise and having a healthy diet. Apart from that, do not drink alcohol or take any drugs either illegal or medicinal that negatively impact your liver. 

In the event that you develop the aforementioned hepatitis C symptoms, you are advised to immediately get an appointment to get a medical test of hepatitis C and consult your doctor.