Hepatitis C is a liver infection that immediately begins to attack the liver. If it is not properly treated, it can lead to a chronic liver condition that must be managed for the rest of a person’s life. Hepatitis C is most commonly spread through the sharing of needles with an infected person. The Centers for Disease Control warns baby boomers to be tested for Hepatitis C since they are the most likely to be infected. Those born between 1945 and 1965 should be tested to ensure they are not infected. Those who test positive will need to make sure they seek Hepatitis C Treatment in Queens NY.
In the past, the drugs used to treat Hepatitis C had many side-effects, causing people to sometimes avoid Hepatitis C Treatment in Queens NY. There are now five new medications that are being successfully used to treat the disease and reduce the damage done to the liver:
* Sofosbuvir
* Ombitasvir
* Elbasvir-grazoprevir
* Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir
* Simeprevir
It is important a person seeks treatment as soon as they learn they have the infection because prompt treatment removes the infection from the blood in as few as eight weeks. If damage has been done to the liver, the patient may have to undergo further treatment or even take medications to manage the damage for the rest of their lives.
It is important to note, most people with the infection have no symptoms at all. That is why many people are not diagnosed until damage has been done to the liver. Some people do begin to experience symptoms as the infection becomes severe. Symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, and fever. When the disease is present for many years, it can cause significant scarring in the liver, liver cancer, and eventual liver failure.
If you have not been tested for Hepatitis C and are in the high-risk group, it behooves you to seek testing. If you would like to learn more about the infection and how it is treated, visit Sitename. They can provide you with the care you need, to better manage your condition and keep your liver healthy.
