In 2023, Russia recorded an increase in the incidence of viral infections (including hepatitis C) by 42%. There are many myths surrounding this seemingly terrible diagnosis, including those about the incurability of the disease and the high risk of infecting the patient’s loved ones. The doctor of the “Digital Clinic” of the VSK Insurance House dispelled the main misconceptions about the disease. Myth 1. Hepatitis C is a disease of low-income populations. Hepatitis is liver damage caused by various causes (drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections, obesity and overweight, autoimmune lesions of the body). The disease is characterized by laboratory increases in ALT and AST levels. The most common method of transmission is through blood. Thus, not only drug addicts are at risk, but also people who perform injection procedures (piercing, tattoo, manicure), doctors (for them the risk is about 2% if injured by a contaminated needle). In total, at least 58 million people worldwide suffer from this disease. Myth 2. Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily through sexual contact. The likelihood of infection depends on the amount of virus that has entered the blood, as well as the presence of skin lesions. Contrary to popular belief, sexually transmitted infections are rare: with one unprotected sexual contact the risk is about 0.5% (in a monogamous couple), and with regular changes of sexual partners it increases to 2%. But it is worth remembering that having HIV infection increases the likelihood of infection four times. Myth 3. If a woman is sick with hepatitis C, then the child will definitely become infected. The possibility of transmitting the hepatitis virus from mother to child during childbirth (naturally or by caesarean section) is 5-10%. That is, a woman with hepatitis C can give birth to a healthy child. Breastfeeding is also not limited, with the exception of multiple bleeding cracked nipples. Myth 4. To avoid becoming infected, you must avoid close contact with an infected person. Hepatitis C is not transmitted through shared tools, hugs, handshakes, or kisses (exceptions include HIV infection and oral ulcers). cough and sneezing. Communication and daily contact with an infected person should not be limited, as this can cause additional psychological stress in the patient. Myth 5. Hepatitis is manifested by liver problems. The difficulty in diagnosing this infection is that in its chronic form it is often asymptomatic. Complications in the form of liver damage occur already in the later stages of the disease. In the first stages, the liver does not hurt. Therefore, testing for viral hepatitis is prescribed as part of preoperative monitoring, during routine examinations, etc. Hepatitis C infection may not have obvious symptoms. For example, there is a definite connection between viral infection and the following diseases: skin lesions (lichen planus), joint lesions of unknown cause; autoimmune diseases (Sjogren’s syndrome), as well as the presence of autoantibodies without other criteria for autoimmune diseases, blood damage (cryoglobulinemia), B-cell lymphoma, thrombocytopenic purpura. Myth 5. Hepatitis C is incurable Hepatitis C is curable in 95% of cases. The goal of treatment is to completely remove the virus from the body, as well as prevent the final stages of liver damage. Therefore, the sooner an infestation is detected, the better. Treatment is permitted for adults and children over 3 years of age. Therapy is selected individually depending on the “type” of the virus and the degree of liver damage. Medicines for hepatitis are used in a course of 12 to 24 weeks. Even if the first detection of infection with the hepatitis C virus occurs at the stage of diagnosing liver cirrhosis, then in our time this stage is not a death sentence – patients with such a diagnosis also live long and comfortably. In addition, sometimes the immune system is even able to fight the virus on its own, without the use of special drugs – recovery can occur within six months without the formation of chronic hepatitis. Myth 6. It is important to get vaccinated against viral infections, especially hepatitis. Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C. The virus is highly variable in structure, which has hampered the development of a vaccine to prevent infection. “In recent years, scientists and doctors around the world have conducted a lot of research on this disease, but there is still a persistent misunderstanding in society regarding hepatitis C, which significantly worsens the quality of life of those infected and their psychological state. Not only are ordinary people misunderstood (for example, they begin to avoid the patient), but sometimes doctors themselves are misunderstood. Some surveys have shown that 35% of healthcare workers believe hepatitis C infection is incurable, which is completely false. The infection is curable, and. The availability of medicines increases forever every year. The main factor in recovery is early diagnosis,” notes VSK Insurance gastroenterologist Polina Shubina.
the risk of contracting hepatitis C through contact with a sick person is low, the disease itself is treatable – Russia today
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