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.

The increasing number of citizens that are testing positive for Hepatitis C is shocking and the epidemic is just getting worse. One out of every one hundred people in the general population has Hepatitis C, but the ratio is higher in prisons. One out of every six inmates has Hepatitis C (Wegner, Rottnek, Parker and Crippin, 2014). Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood disease that is caused by a virus and it affects the liver. Unfortunately there is no vaccine to prevent this disease and I have seen first-hand how ugly this virus is. I have worked in the medical field for the past 6 years and I have a very close friend who contracted HCV. Unfortunately, she was one of the many people that needed a liver transplant. HCV has infected four times as

Hepatitis C has been referred to as a "Silent Epidemic," since it usually progresses slowly over many years. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C are not aware of any noticeable symptoms for as long as one to two decades after they are infected. In fact, by the time symptoms appear, the virus has probably already begun to damage the liver. If the liver is injured and stops functioning, death will always be the outcome (Lieber). Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver transplants in the United States.

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

Hepatitis is a disease caused by a virus that is characterized by liver inflammation. There are three common types of hepatitis – A, B, and C. “Over the past 15 years the incidences of hepatitis and b virus infection in the US have declined significantly. By contrast, the incidence of hepatitis C, formally stable or in decline, has increased 75% since 2010”. (Dan, 2015)

The infectious disease known as Hepatitis is caused by the infectious agent or pathogen identified as the Hepatitis A virus. There are currently seven known forms of Hepatitis, such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and so on. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C are the most common with the highest rate of people contracted with the infectious disease. Viral Hepatitis is an international main contributor to liver disease and accounts for high illness and death. In the United States Hepatitis A, HAV for short has reached a massive decline of occurrences since vaccinations became available. The decrease in incidences has nearly hit ninety percent. Though, there are still over twenty five thousand people

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (~55 to 65 nm), spherical enveloped virus that can cause major illness. Hepatitis C was discovered after the intense investigations between 1982 and 1988 in Chiron corporation. Michael Houghton discovered the non-A and non-B hepatitis by using the molecular approach. Hepatitis C affects liver caused by the hepatitis virus; the virus can cause acute and chronic hepatitis infection ranging from a mild illness to severity, lifelong illness. Mostly patients are affected with acute infection; however, chronic hepatitis is caused by liver cirrhosis a severe scarring which can lead to liver failure. HCV affects more than 185 million people worldwide. The rate of chronic hepatitis is affected by race, gender, and viral immune response. Depending on the certain region, hepatitis C infections can be concentrated in certain populations or in general populations. The HCV have high genetic diversity which is characterized by regional variation which makes treating the infection more challenging. Hepatitis patients are often prescribed ribavirin and interferon; but current research is developing new therapeutic drugs which will be less toxic and can be targeted to each genotype. This review will provide the historical, and scientific aspects of hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C has been referred to as a "Silent Epidemic," since it usually progresses slowly over many years. Most people who are infected with hepatitis C are not aware of any noticeable symptoms for as long as one to two decades after they are infected. In fact, by the time symptoms appear, the virus has probably already begun to damage the liver. If the liver is injured and stops functioning, death will always be the outcome (Lieber). Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver transplants in the United States.

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