Hepatitis C Lab Paper

This research paper is going to review today’s silent killer, the Hepatitis C virus. This paper will talk about the description of the disease, the signs and symptoms, the etiology and risk factors, diagnostic studies, treatments and prognosis of this disease. I had lived with this disease for over ten years before diagnosed so it is important to understand the signs and symptoms so the disease can be identified and a treatment plan can be identified as the sooner it is treated the more likely it will eradicate the disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is from the virus family Flaviviridae with an RNA envelope serving as it's genetic material. The genetic material (RNA) is HCV's pathogenic structure. The genome is positive sense single stranded RNA, which is very similar to mRNA and can be translated quickly to the host cell (Bauman 2012). Hepatitis C is an enveloped virus, and the RNA also lacks a proofreading ability after replication, which results in mutations coding for many genotypes within the host. This genetic variability makes it difficult for the host immune system to clear all the HCV infections. As one infection clears, another strain is being produced (Bauman 2012). The HCV antibody detected by ELISA(Wilkinson

A few years ago, Hepatitis C was a scary term for many of us. But, today the medical problem is curable as there are various and advanced ways available. The improvement in the treatment is especially notable because experts have worked harder to obtain this success. Still, there are some significant changes are left and hopefully they will be completed soon. Presently, the HCV treatments get rid of the virus in merely slightly more than half of all sufferers. The medicines also have unnecessary side effects that make it complicated or not possible for some patients to get them. HCV medication online available, but it is not worthy to take them without the concern of the doctor.

Many people don’t understand how dangerous Hepatitis C is because it is not commonly known about as much as Hepatitis A or B. This disease is however very serious. Although frequently asymptomatic in time the virus can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. Symptoms of HCV are jaundice (yellowing of the eyes), stomach pain, nausea and fatigue. Treatment options for the disease, if caught early enough is a combination of medications or depending on the degree of damage, a liver transplant. ”For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness but for 70%-85% of people who become infected with

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver's cells and tissues caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

On March 24th at 7:30 in the Chapel, Jay Parish presented “The Discovery of Antiviral Agents and What I Learned Learned Along the Way”. He elaborated on his contributions to the study of anti-virals for the treatment of different viruses, particularly Hepatitis C. By explaining the course of the virus, Mr. Parish brought light to a medical concern that is typically unheard of by people. His lecture was quite interesting in that it made people realize that the parameters of an illness/virus is much more complex than perceived.

Initial curative treatment in the early 1990’s used interferon and the antiviral ribavirin with a cure rate of 50% (Watson, n.d., p. 1). 2011 saw the invention of two antiviral medications, telaprivir and boceprevir, that increased cure rates to 70%. In 2013 newer drugs, simeprevir and sofosbuvir, were introduced with the later creating 90% cure rates in patients (Watson, n.d., p.gs. 1-2). Simeprevir (Sovaldi) was created for administration once per day over a minimum of a year (Gilead, 2014). Eradication of the disease in patients is effective in patients co-infected with HIV with low rates of side effects (Sulkowski, et al., 2014), highlighting its efficacy in complex patient populations. The cost of such treatment is $1,000 per day with an average cost for curative course exceeding $94,000 (Venteicher, 2014). The medication is FDA approved and prescribed readily, but patients are not receiving access to the medication through their insurers.

What is Hepatitis B?-Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by HBV or the hepatitis B virus. Most people who have Hepatitis B usually have what’s called an acute infection meaning that it will only last for a short period of time (usually a couple days or weeks). This virus can be chronic for some people which means that it can last longer than six months. (6)

This review will draw out and summarize key themes and findings from those five studies. Next, potential gaps in the research related to hepatitis C risk factors for this population will be examined. It will will then conclude with a brief discussion of future directions for research, as well as the implications of these risk factors on hepatitis C policy and interventions for urban Indigenous populations.

The Hepatitis C virus is transmitted primarily through blood contact with an infected carrier and is the most common chronic blood borne infection. This can

The hepatitis C virus is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. The virus replicates within hepatocytes and is most notable for lacking a proofreading polymerase which enables copious amounts of viral mutations. There are 6 genotypes of HCV with the most widely distributed genotypes being types 1, the most common, and type 2.

HCV is an enveloped single stranded RNA virus and belongs to the genus Hepacivirus of the family Flaviviridae (Irshad el al., 2013). Analysis has identified 6 different types of HCV genotypes numbered 1 to 6 (Pawlotsky, 2003). Genotype 1 is the common type of HCV currently in the United States (Irshad el al., 2013). Differentiating between the genotypes when determining the which antiviral regimen to treat the patient with. Humans are the only known natural host for HCV (Pawlotsky, 2003). HCV is a non-cytopathic virus that enters the liver cell and replicates causing hepatocytes necrosis by several mechanisms by immune mediated cytolysis and metabolic changes including hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress and insulin resistance

Hepatitis C has developed into a significant public health issue that poses challenges because of the nature of its gestation period. The disease is asymptomatic so persons that have the disease might appear healthy for years unaware that they have the infection. The difference in genotypes in relation to diagnosis also presents another challenge to doctors. However, with improved techniques of disease diagnosis, it will be easier to detect the disease in its early stages of development which will prevent severe damage to the liver that only occurs when the disease has advanced to worse states. Liver cirrhosis and hepatomas are common problems that occur in patients when the diagnosis is confirmed at late stages.

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver’s cells and tissues caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

About 4% of the Indian population was estimated to be HBV carriers giving a total of approximately 36 million carriers, with chronic hepatitis B constituting more than 50% of the