Ten Most
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers |
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1.What
is chronic viral hepatitis? |
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Chronic
viral hepatitis is most commonly caused by either hepatitis B
virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Together, they affect
over 500 million people around the world. |
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2.
How is chronic viral hepatitis acquired? |
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HBV
and HCV are blood-borne viruses and are usually transmitted in
one of the following ways:
a.
mother-to-child at birth;
b. unprotected sexual intercourse;
c. non-sterile medical equipment, e.g. hypodermic needles;
d. blood transfusions from unscreened blood sources;
e. unsafe practises, eg. Tribal markings, tattooing, body piercing;
f. sharing toothbrushes and razors within the home.
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3.
What are the consequences of chronic viral hepatitis? |
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Untreated,
chronic viral hepatitis may lead to liver scarring (cirrhosis)
and loss of normal liver function leading to jaundice, fluid accumulation
in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract
(varices) and liver cancer. |
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4.
How does one discover if he / she has chronic viral hepatitis? |
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Blood
tests are now available which detect infection with HBV and HCV.
More sophisticated (PCR) tests measure the exact viral blood levels. |
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5.
If I discover I have chronic viral hepatitis, what should I do? |
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The
most important issue is to determine if the virus has already
caused any unsuspected damage to the liver. This is possible through:
a.
a thorough clinical examination;
b. blood tests that reflect the degree of inflammation in the
liver;
c. an abdominal scan to help determine if there is any scarring
of the liver;
d. if necessary, a liver biopsy, or sample of liver tissue obtained
for the precise determination of the degree of liver inflammation
and scarring caused by the virus.
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6.
Are there available effective treatments for chronic viral hepatitis? |
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Fifteen
years ago, the answer was no. Now, we have modern, effective treatments
that can eradicate the virus completely from the body or stop
the virus from replicating and causing liver damage. |
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7.
Is treatment for chronic viral hepatitis easy? |
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No.
The treatments available are expensive, may last for up to 12
months, and have multiple side-effects which can interfere with
daily life including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, anaemia and rashes. |
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8.
How do I ensure that I complete treatment for chronic viral hepatitis
successfully? |
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By
undergoing regular medical supervision and blood tests for the
duration of the treatment that allow dose adjustment if necessary. |
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9.
How successful are available treatments? |
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No
guarantees can be made prior to commencing and during treatment.
Depending on the strain of the virus and providing patients complete
the difficult treatments available, response rates of 30 –
95% can be achieved. |
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10.
Is treatment for chronic viral hepatitis worthwhile? |
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Definitely.
Despite the complicated and expensive treatments available, the
option of a cure from viral infection can mean the difference
between a completely normal life and progressive liver-related
illnesses. Viral eradication also prevents the spread of the virus
further to other people. |
