Among all types of this virus, hepatitis B and C virus is a cause of chronic liver infection (chronic) and may end in cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C there is no vaccine.
It is estimated there are around 30 million people with hepatitis B and C in Indonesia, and half of these patients has the potential to develop into chronic liver disease and needed a liver transplant. In addition, Indonesia became the third country with the highest hepatitis patients after China and India.
Hepatitis virus attacks the cells in the liver and the heart as a place to grow and born. When this virus attacks the body by sending lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) to the liver, inflammation occurs. Inflammation is a normal response to infection.
However, if it persists, the chemicals released lymphocytes may cause damage to liver cells. If liver cells are damaged, it can not function properly and die.
Some of these liver cells can grow back, but the severe destruction that can result in fibrosis (scarring of the liver). Fibrosis causes the decline of all liver function.
If passed, scar tissue will harden and replace most of the normal liver cells. This condition is called medical sirosis, meaning to hardening of the liver. When a person has cirrhosis, it means that most of the heart has been broken and no longer work normally.
Cirrhosis can be very dangerous if not handled properly and could not be detected until many years duration. Most people infected with hepatitis have no symptoms, so-called silent disease.
In fact, if not handled properly, about 15-20 years can cause serious liver disorders such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most people with hepatitis just knew if he was infected during a medical examination (medical check ups) or when going to the blood donor. Some of the signs that can appear if someone has a liver disorder, namely:
- Fever may be accompanied by chills.
- Dark yellow urine, such as tea. Irregular bowel movements, usually not every day.
- Experiencing Skin. Skin and eye color changes to yellowish so often called jaundice.
- Loss of appetite that causes weight decrease. Patient may become anemic and often feel nauseated. Stomach bloating, full of gas, digestive disorders and occurs after meals.
- Abdominal pain right upper abdomen to look bloated. This is because of swelling under the lower right rib which is a common complaint of the patient's heart. It can provide heavy pressure on the diaphragm which sometimes become ill while breathing. Infection with hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through blood and body fluids such as semen, vaginal fluid or saliva. Transmission can occur through:
-Sexual intercourse with patients with hepatitis B or C without a safety net.
- Contact with the blood of patients with hepatitis B or C, for instance through needles (drug addict), shaving equipment, toothbrushes, clothing affected by blood, acupuncture tool, manicure tools, nail clippers, body piercing or tattoo equipment (piercing) are not sterile, blood transfusion without going through the rigorous screening.
- Of patients with hepatitis B mothers to their babies in the womb or when the baby is born. However, do not have to worry about, hepatitis B and C is not spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging, or holding hands.
Here are some ways to protect themselves from infection with hepatitis B and C, namely:
- Check the sterility needles used for ear piercing or other body parts, tattoos, acupuncture, or electrodialysis.
- Avoid sharing needles with others.
- Avoid the use of joint / alternate nail clippers, razors, toothbrushes, and other objects that may contact with blood.
- Perform periodic checks against hepatitis B and C if you are the people at high risk, say health care or never received an organ transplant, blood transfusion, sharing needles, unprotected sex, and others. But if your heart has been damaged, there are several ways to keep heart destruction does not continue. You should immediately consult a doctor or medical professional about your condition really is. In general, the following steps can help you:
-Avoid alcohol and all types of foods or drugs that are toxic to the liver. Heart consider alcohol as a toxic, liver filter and discard. When a person infected with hepatitis C, alcohol can significantly increase the destruction of the liver. Avoid alcohol consumption along with acetaminophen (painkillers are sold freely on the market). When you take it in the same time, it can aggravate the destruction of the liver.
- Eat healthy foods. When your liver is damaged, the body will not get the nutrients that it need. You will feel tired or weak. You also will lose their appetite. Therefore, it is important to keep the daily intake of nutrients that you need to maintain weight and energy level should be.
- Drink plenty of water. Water is one important part of influence in the functioning of the body. Water helps remove toxins and help make the process of absorption of essential nutrients. Drinking water in the required amount can also help eliminate side effects during treatment or therapy. However, please also note, if you already have cirrhosis, a reduction in fluid needs to be done if your body contains too much liquid.
- Reduce salt in your diet. When liver disease becomes more severe, the kidneys will respond to keep salt and water. Salt serves as a sponge that absorbs water. This leads to accumulation of fluid in the body. Reduce salt in your diet and limit the amount of fluid that enters the body, can help you reduce the buildup of fluid levels in the body.
- Get vaccinated to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B.Ko hepatitis C-infection with other types of hepatitis can cause liver damage worse. Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, vaccination to prevent Hepatitis C virus infection from hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be done. Consult your doctor about this vaccination measures. Although hepatitis B and C can cause scarring and inflammation of the liver, the right treatment can help reduce the inflammation that occurs.
Meanwhile, in severe cases, the need to heart transplant in Indonesia still faces several obstacles. In Indonesia, current methods of early detection of hepatitis are quite cheap which is known as hepatitis screening rapid test that proved sensitive to the hepatitis C virus (HCV hepatitis C virus) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). If there is one person who was diagnosed positive by using this tool, then the officer can prevent transmission to those around him by providing vaccinations for hepatitis.
With the detection and early treatment, and preventive action, then the expected number of patients with hepatitis can decrease and prevent the occurrence of cirrhosis or liver cancer, and of course also can reduce the cost of treatment.
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