Hepatitis C is a severe viral infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is one of the most serious health problems affecting the liver, with approximately 130-170 million people estimated to be chronically infected and 3 to 4 million newly infected each year.

The disease is spread worldwide, but seems to have a higher prevalence in some countries in Africa, the eastern part of the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific. Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C virus is known as the “silent killer” and patients can live with the virus for years without knowing they are infected.

Symptoms. Most people seem to have no symptoms during the acute phase. For those 25 to 30% of people who still shows those signs, they are usually vague and non-specific. For patients who develop a chronic phase, symptoms can be:

• Fatigue;
• Depression;
• Short-term memory problems;
• Headache;
• Abdominal pain;
• Flu symptoms.

However, patients can live with the virus for years without knowing they are infected. Transmission of hepatitis C virus is made by:

• Blood transfusions and blood products
• Shaver, scissors, toothbrush
• Sexual transmission

High risk factors:

• Patients receiving hemodialysis (washing of blood, artificial kidney) are at increased risk of illness;
• Sharing of needles. This method of transmission is primarily due to the common use of syringes;
• In intravenous drug addicts and patients with haemophilia were often recorded double infection with either hepatitis B or that of AIDS. An overlap of HCB over hepatitis C and HIV leads to an unfavorable prognosis;
• Medical personnel who come into contact with infected blood shows a high risk;
• From mother to child transmission of the disease is more rare than in hepatitis B. Transmission is possible during the 9 months of pregnancy, during breastfeeding;

Hepatitis C is initially acute but may develop a chronic form. Hepatitis C acute heal itself rather quickly, without causing long-term damage to liver. Somewhere between 15 and 30% of people completely eliminate the virus during the acute phase. Chronic hepatitis C can lead to serious diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is also the main cause in cases of liver transplantation in the U.S..

There are two types of medicines used to treat Hepatitis C. Treatment is given only after the indication and prescription. Not all people who have this virus need treatment immediately. Changing lifestyle is a major component in all diseases in general liver