Hepatitis C

Although Hepatitis C has become less of a concern in first world countries, less financially stable ones still face the challenges of Hep C. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 170 million people, qualifying it as a pandemic to some experts (Lauer et al., 2001). There are some severe symptoms associated with the virus including easy bruising/bleeding, fatigue, poor appetite and sometimes death. But how can we fight to eradicate the virus completely?

Ebola has several symptoms that begin to arise between the 2nd and 21st day after infection. Many of the symptoms are sudden and may be experienced with intense fevers. These include things like fatigue, vomiting, muscle pain, sore throat, among others. In more progressive stages symptoms such as diarrhea, rashes, impaired liver and kidney functions, and/or internal/external bleeding may also develop. One of the issues that remains with EVD is that in the region where it is most prevalent, there are also many other illnesses that affect the population (these can include malaria, meningitis, and typhoid fevers). Once contracted, the survival rate for the infected is quite low even if medical assistance is sought. The fatality rate can range from 25% to 90%, though these odds vary significantly based on a number of other variables. Asymptomatic patients of EVD cannot pass the illness. There is no decisive treatment for EVD as of September 21st, 2020. There are a range of different therapies designed to assist and improve the mortality rate among infected individuals. The most effective way to prevent Ebola is good hand hygiene. There have been experimental vaccines that were developed in 2015 that are largely protective against EVD.

Understanding how viruses spread is the key to fighting Hepatitis C. Hep C is most commonly spread through bodily fluids, but cannot spread through the air. Due to the manner in which Hep C spreads, patients are regularly discriminated against around the world, which is detrimental to combatting this virus. According to a study done to determine the impacts of Hep C discrimination in the workplace, “Employers need to acknowledge and reduce HCV bullying and stigma to achieve more positive outcomes for both individuals living with HCV and the overall organizations in which they work” (Noor et al., 2016). When those in the healthcare field have biases towards certain illnesses, stigmas often arise around Hep C patients due to the association between sex, drug use, and contracting the virus.

A study conducted by healthcare providers on the Hep C knowledge found that “54% believed most people with hepatitis C died prematurely, 55% were unaware that a pharmaceutical treatment is available, 25% of medical practitioners were unaware that a positive hepatitis C antibody does not indicate current infection, 50% of nurses and 45% of pharmacists incorrectly believed hepatitis C is commonly spread through sexual contact” (Lauer et al. 2001). In order to eradicate a disease, healthcare providers must understand it.

There is no vaccine for Hep C, but the virus can typically be treated in about 10 weeks. Avoiding behaviors that spread the disease such as drug use with needles and close physical contact with infected persons is the best way to avoid infection, along with being precautionarily tested. The road to eradicating Hep C is being paved, but it will take a worldwide effort to accomplish this. GHI, also known as The Global Health Impact project, uses indexes to track and fight many viruses and illnesses through data collection and analysis. By collecting relevant data on Hep C, such as virus severity, how likely pharmaceutical companies are to share patents, and how effective different Hep C drug regimens are, GHI is able to provide detailed analyses to governments around the world. By sharing and recording information in these fields, countries are better able to purchase necessary medications at less of a financial burden.

References:

1. Lauer, Georg M., and Bruce D. Walker. “Hepatitis C Virus Infection.” New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 345, no. 1, 2001, pp. 41–52., doi:10.1056/nejm200107053450107.
2. Noor, Ayesha, et al. “Bullying, Internalized Hepatitis (Hepatitis C Virus) Stigma, and Self-Esteem: Does Spirituality Curtail the Relationship in the Workplace.” Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 21, no. 9, 2016, pp. 1860–1869., doi:10.1177/1359105314567211.