DEFINITION OF HEPATITIS

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver and its usually because of a viral infection or liver
damage from drinking excessive alcohol. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis/

Types of hepatitis
There are several types of hepatitis and the 5 major types are:
1.) HEPATITIS A; This is caused by the hepatitis A virus and it’s usually caused by
consuming food and drink contaminated by the poo of a person with the virus. It can stop
after a few months but in some cases it is so severe to the point it can be life threatening.
There’s no specific treatment other than that to relieve symptoms like pain and nausea.
Vaccination against this is recommended.

2.)HEPATITIS B; This is caused by hepatitis B virus spread through the blood of an infected
person. It’s common and usually passes onto a child during pregnancy and also spread
through injecting drugs or unprotected sexual intercourse. Most adults fight off the virus and
fully recover from the infection in a couple months while for children can be more severe and
usually lead to long term infection known as chronic hepatitis B which leads to cirrhosis and
liver cancer. It is treated by antiviral medication. Vaccination against this is recommended.

3.)HEPATITIS C; This is caused by hepatitis C virus and its also spread through blood to
blood contact with an infected person Hepatitis C usually can be very hard to notice cause it
has no noticeable symptoms, some people immune system fights off the infection and be free
of the virus while for others it can stay in the body for many years, This is    called chronic
hepatitis C and can cause cirrhosis and liver failure. It can be treated with very effective
antiviral medicines, but there's currently no vaccine available.

4.)HEPATITIS D; This is caused by the hepatitis D virus and it affects only people that are
infected with hepatitis B virus and this is because it needs the hepatitis b virus to be able to
survive in the body. It is spread through blood to blood contact and through unprotected
sexual intercourse. Long term infection of both of these hepatitis can lead to long term
damage and causes cirrhosis and liver cancer. Theres no vaccine for hepatitis D but vaccine
from hepatitis B can help you protect against it.

5.)HEPATITIS E; This is caused by the hepatitis R virus and its usually caused by the
consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat or offal, but also with wild boar meat, venison
and shellfish. Hepatitis E is generally a mild and short-term infection that does not require
any treatment, but it can be serious in some people, such as those who have a weakened
immune system. There's no vaccine for hepatitis E. When travelling to parts of the world with
poor sanitation, where epidemic hepatitis E may be common, you can reduce your risk by
practising good food and water hygiene measures.

HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C is the ongoing inflammation of your liver due to chronic HCV infection. It can
lead to various symptoms throughout the body and some of these symptoms are digestive
problems, thyroid tissue damage and several other ongoing impacts which will be discussed
further into this presentation. Overtime an HCV infection can lead to cirrhosis which can
cause liver failure which will lead to the need of liver transplant. Cirrhosis is a late stage
result of liver disease and it’s complications which can be caused by alcohol use disorder,
hepatitis and non alcohol related fatty liver disease Treatment depends on how severe the
problem is and often leads to liver transplantation when the liver starts to fail. Cirrhosis
gradually causes liver cells to be replaced by scar tissue which then progresses to a point
where there is isn’t enough normal liver function. Cirrhosis create a buildup of toxins in the
brain that can make you confused or forgetful. It can also cause blood flow problems and skin
issues like easy bruising or jaundice. According to Healthline About 15 to 30 percent of
people with HCV infection will develop liver failure.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/effects-on-the-body

How is Hepatitis C transmitted

According to Healthline Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with the blood and it’s
rarely transmitted through sexual contact with someone who has the virus. The infection has
two stages: ACUTE AND CHRONIC. The acute stage is the first 6 months after presumed
exposure to the virus and for some, this is considered a short term illness. But according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50 percent of people with
HCV will develop a chronic HCV infection. This means it can be lifelong. Most people don’t
realize they have the virus until other symptoms within their body start.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/effects-on-the-body

SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS C
According to NHS many people with hepatitis C don’t have any symptoms and are unaware
that they have the infection. They may develop symptoms much later on as their liver
becomes increasingly damaged. Only around 1 in every 3 or 4 people will have any
symptoms during the first 6 months of a hepatitis C infection and this stage is known as acute
hepatitis C. Symptoms may develop in some after few weeks of infection and such symptoms
may include
• A high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above.
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Tummy pains
• Feeling and being sick

Also around 1 in every 5 persons will experience jaundice and also 1 in every 4 persons
immune system will fight off the virus and kill the virus within few months and the person
becomes cured unless that person gets infected again. In the remaining cases, the virus
persists inside the body for many months or years. This is known as chronic hepatitis.
LATER SYMPTOMS ARE;
• Feeling tired all the time
• Joint and muscle aches and pains
• Feeling sick
• problems with short-term memory, concentration and completing complex mental
tasks such as mental arithmetic – many people describe this as "brain fog"
• Mood swings
• Depression or anxiety
• Indisgestion
• Itchy skin
• Abdominal pain

If left untreated it leads to scarring of the liver which then leads to cirrhosis.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms/
HOW HEPATITIS C AFFECTS THE HUMAN BODY
• BRAIN; After the first few weeks of getting hepatitis C you may find yourself a little
bit more tired than usual and later on would start noticing brain fog which is a confused and
spacey feeling. You may also later on have deeper fatigue, memory problems and symptoms
of depression.

• BLOOD; Inflammation in the liver caused by hepatitis C and later scarring can block
blood flow to the area and without healthy blood flow the liver cells starts to die. This lack of
circulation can also cause the legs or belly to swell and you may also bleed or bruise more
easily.

• MOUTH; In some peoples cases hepatitis c can cause an autoimmune condition called
sick syndrome, this makes the mouth dry and also makes it hard to swallow. It can also cause
oral lichen plants which is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects he mucous
membranes inside your mouth.
Symptoms include swelling, sores and white lacy patches.

• EYES; Liver damage in the later stages of hepatitis c causes yellow eyes, a sign of
jaundice. This is a result of the liver not working the way it’s meant to work and yellow bile
called bilirubin builds up in your body. This bile turns your eyes yellow. Also note that your
eyes can also dry out from sicca syndrome.

• INTESTINES; Hepatitis C that inflames your liver also affects your intestines, a
damage liver can’t make enough bile and when bile acids are low, your intestines can’t absorb
vital nutrients the body needs.

• DIGESTION; When liver damage caused by hepatitis C starts to get worse, you may
feel nauseated and lose your appetite. Advanced Cirrhosis which Is also liver damage cause
pressure to build up in your liver’s blood vessels. This enlarges the veins in your esophagus
and elsewhere in your digestive system.

• WEIGHT; Hepatitis c can cause thyroid problems more often slowing it down which
is a condition called hypothyroidism. Although this could cause weight gain, symptoms of
hepatitis c like poor appetite and nausea usually cause weight loss. Later when hepatitis c
liver damage turns to cirrhosis, it replaces the damage with scar tissue and won’t be able to
work as well as healthy liver tissue which will affect the body’s ability to digest food which
results to unexpected weight loss.

• BLADDER AND BOWEL; The jaundice that comes with a sick liver not only turns
your eyes and skin yellow but also makes your pee turn dark and may also notice your poop
being clay-coloured. The upper right area of your belly where your liver is might feel tender.

• JOINTS; Achy joints and muscles are also an early sign that your bordy’s immune
system is trying to fight off infection, This feeling may come with other flu-like symptoms
like nausea, fatigue, and no appetite.

• BLOOD SUGAR; Hepatitis C makes it harder for your body to deal with glucose
especially once it damages your liver. It keeps insulin from working correctly in your blood
stream. Your also at a higher risk of getting prediabetes and diabetes if you have hepatitis C.
Around 33% of people with the infection have type 2 diabetes.

• SKIN; Hepatitis C can raise the risk for conditions that affect the way your skin looks
or feels. Lichen myxedematosus (LM) and lichen planus both cause small bumps on your
arms, trunk, and face. If LM gets worse it can also make your skin tight and harder. Spider
nevi are tiny red dots with radiating lines that can show up on your face or trunk. Those with
end-stage cirrhosis commonly experience pruritus, a condition that causes full-body itchiness.

• NAILS AND HAIRS; If you have prickling, burning, or numb skin, it could be due to
paresthesia or peripheral neuropathy, two hepatitis C-related nerve conditions. Nails and hair
are affected when hepatitis C moves into cirrhosis: The collagen your liver makes to try and
heal itself can make your nails turn brittle and your hair fall out.
https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/ss/slideshow-hep-c-body

TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C
          Luckily for us hepatitis can be treated so getting infected is not a death sentence. You
can treat it by taking medicines for several weeks. Acute hepatitis may not need a treatment
plan because your body might fight the virus off after a few months but if it worsens and your
body can’s fight off the virus after 6 months then this results to chronic hepatitis then
treatment is necessary.
There is a treatment plan for Chronic hepatitis C and these are
• You have to get the right tablets to fight the virus and these tablets are called direct-
acting (DAA) tablets and some of these tablets are sofosbuvir, combination of ledipasvir and
sofosbuvir,    combination of ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir, taken with or without
dasabuvir, combination of elbasvir and grazoprevir, combination of sofosbuvir and
velpatasvir, combination of sofosbuvir, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir, combination of
glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, ribavirin. The tablets you need depend on    the type of Hepatitis
C you have in terms of genotype. You can check NHS for more information on the right
treatment plan for your specific genotype or consult your doctor.    DAA tablets are the safest
and most effective medicines for treating hepatitis C. They're highly effective at clearing the
infection in more than 90% of people. The tablets are taken for 8 to 12 weeks. The length of
treatment will depend on which type of hepatitis C you have. Some types of hepatitis C can
be treated using more than 1 type of DAA.
•
• A test to check if the liver is damaged and if it’s damaged then you can proceed with
the treatment recommended by your doctor.
• A lifestyle change to prevent further damage

According to the NHS society there are 6 main strains of the virus. In the UK, the most
common strains are genotype 1 and genotype 3. You can be infected with more than 1 strain.
You'll be offered the medicine most appropriate for your type of hepatitis C.
During treatment, you should have blood tests to check that your medicine is working.
If it's not, you may be advised to try another medicine. This will only affect a small number
of people.
Your doctor will also assess your liver for damage (scarring), either with a blood test or a
scan called a fibroscan.
At the end of your treatment, you'll have a blood test to see if the virus has been cleared and a
second blood test 12 or 24 weeks after treatment has stopped.
If both tests show no sign of the virus, this means treatment has been successful.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/treatment/

CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

              I will use a case study of a man that was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c virus in
2003 to explain how the treatment for Hepatitis C works, he was an average build 47 year old
man living in Pakistan. He ignored the infection and refused to seek treatment for about 5
years, all through the 5 years, he suffered from symptoms such as pain, fatigue and fever and
maybe more, this was what was mentioned in the article. After the years went by, in 2007 he
received he’s first treatment which was 100 mg of interferon(IFN) weekly plus 400mg
ribavirin (RBV) daily as a combination therapy which lasted for 6 months. Unfortunately
after the 6 months, sustained virological response (SVR) was not achieved. After that the
patient remained without treatment for the next 2 years which was 2008-2009 or so. In 2010
he went through the same combination therapy for 6 months and remained positive for the
Hepatitis C Ribonucleic acid also known as HCV RNA. The treatments were not only
expensive but also resulted in adverse effects which were stomach burning, loss of appetite,
nausea, fever, fatigue, and anxiety. In 2011, the patients doctor told him to undergo Pegylated
interferon (PEG-IFN plus RBV) combination therapy for the next 6 months. even after the 6
months the patients serum was still positive for HCV RNA then in 2015 the patient
underwent 400 mg of sofosbuvir daily plus RBV combination therapy for 6 months and still
SVR was not achievable and surprisingly a high viral load of 5.2 x 105 IU/ml was reported
by the doctors by real time polymerase chain reaction diagnosis also known as PCR. An
ultrasound scan revealed that he’s liver was of normal shape, size and echotexture. Also he
had a mildly fatty liver with no fibrosis or lesion viral genotype remained undetermined for
the years 2012, 2014 and early 2016 following 6 months of combination therapy, which
might have been because of several reasons like maybe the detection methods incapability or
detection limit as it was performed on conventional PCR-based method followed by detection
on the agarose gel. After that in 2016, the viral load was still the same as before and the
patient remained positive for the virus which was genotype 3a. After partial genome
sequencing of NS5B, the blast analysis showed 93% similarity to the already existing NS5B
nucleotide sequences in the GenBank database. This showed them the virus was of genotype
3a with accession number KY971494; variant ‘PK1-RV’ in the GenBank database. Analysis
further confirmed that the variant PK1-RV is distinct from the HCV genotypes 3k, 3b, 1a and
1b. The doctors took the medical history of the patient and performed restriction fragment
length polymorphism RFLP for interleukin 28b (IL28B) at rs8099917 and rs12979860. The
present study showed them polymorphism cytosine and thymine CT    and guanine and
thymine GT at rs12978960, rs 8099917 respectively. Yang et al linked the same
polymorphism with a successful treatment outcome that is acheived SVR. Recently the
doctors reported a multi drug-resistant HCV infected patient with the same genotype
genotype 3a and its association with IL28B polymorphism, after an ultrasound examination
showed that patients liver was in normal size, shape and echo texture with no focal lesion.
After a sovaldi plus ribavirin treatment the doctors observed higher viremiain the blood even
though there was favourable virus and host genetic factor ie. IL28B polymorphism CT and
GT at rs12978960 and rs8099917 respectively and ALT in normal range.
                Sezaki et al conducted a study to determine the impact of IL28B polymorphism on
SVR in patients on a ledipasvir/SOF regimen in the past and observed that genotypes GT and
CT were associated with lower response rate to the antiviral treatment regimen. The most
favourable polymorphism in relation to responsiveness to therapy is cytosine-cytosine CC
which has been reported to have nearly 2x a higher likelihood of attaining SVR compared to
patients with a cytosine-thymine CT or thymine-thymine TT genotype. And it was also
reported that polymorphism in IL28B rs12979860 is strongly associated with the response
rate to the antiviral treatment regimen. In the current study today, the patient tolerated the
SOF and RBV combination therapy very well but he still failed to achieve SVR. Ali et al also
conducted a review of the treatment response rates in Pakistani HCV-infected patients and
came to a conclusion that IFN plus RBV combination therapies have SVR rates of 64.38-
68.38%. Now oral treatment against all HCV genotypes in the majority of patients is now
possible due to the availability of a number of highly effective IFN-free regimens. Kowdley
et al performed a multicenter study and reported that SOF was safe and with rare viral
breakthrough during treatment and lesser drug interactions. Akhter et al conducted the first
study and reported SVR rates of 85.5% to RBV plus SOF combination therapy (n=502;
genotype 3a). Over the years patients with HCV genotype 3a have been reported to have
lower response rates to SOF and RBV therapy than those infected with genotype 2. A
combined therapy of the right doses of RBV and SOF for 6 months is a very effective
treatment for HCV-3.
• Conclusions
                          In the case of the Pakistan patient infected with Hepatitis C genotype 3a, he was
mildly favoured after the therapies due to a phylogenetic analysis that showed a distinct 3a
genotype. It was observed that the sequence of this particular viral genetic factor was much
more evolutionary diverse on the basis of an increased branched length of the node in the
phylogenetic tree. Therefore, it was concluded that mutation in the viral genome and host
genetic factor (CT at locus rs12978960 and GT at rs8099917) could have been responsible
for the patient not responding to the therapies. The doctors then had to administer up to three
therapies of RBV + INF + SOF/Boceprevir or RBV + BRF + SOF) which in some cases
effective in non-responding patients. It is also suggested to use a combined therapy of Olysio
and SOF for treatment. Further studies should be conducted to understand the possible
mechanisms of viral non-responsiveness to therapy regimens.
                          The above mentioned treatment plan is specific for genotype 3a but worldwide
the treatment plan available for HCV in general. In summary Hepatitis C is curable and is not
a death sentence if you are determined to get treated.
              I will use a case study of a man that was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis c virus in
2003 to explain how the treatment for Hepatitis C works, he was an average build 47 year old
man living in Pakistan. He ignored the infection and refused to seek treatment for about 5
years, all through the 5 years, he suffered from symptoms such as pain, fatigue and fever and
maybe more, this was what was mentioned in the article. After the years went by, in 2007 he
received he’s first treatment which was 100 mg of interferon(IFN) weekly plus 400mg
ribavirin (RBV) daily as a combination therapy which lasted for 6 months. Unfortunately
after the 6 months, sustained virological response (SVR) was not achieved. After that the
patient remained without treatment for the next 2 years which was 2008-2009 or so. In 2010
he went through the same combination therapy for 6 months and remained positive for the
Hepatitis C Ribonucleic acid also known as HCV RNA. The treatments were not only
expensive but also resulted in adverse effects which were stomach burning, loss of appetite,
nausea, fever, fatigue, and anxiety. In 2011, the patients doctor told him to undergo Pegylated
interferon (PEG-IFN plus RBV) combination therapy for the next 6 months. even after the 6
months the patients serum was still positive for HCV RNA then in 2015 the patient
underwent 400 mg of sofosbuvir daily plus RBV combination therapy for 6 months and still
SVR was not achievable and surprisingly a high viral load of 5.2 x 105 IU/ml was reported
by the doctors by real time polymerase chain reaction diagnosis also known as PCR. An
ultrasound scan revealed that he’s liver was of normal shape, size and echotexture. Also he
had a mildly fatty liver with no fibrosis or lesion viral genotype remained undetermined for
the years 2012, 2014 and early 2016 following 6 months of combination therapy, which
might have been because of several reasons like maybe the detection methods incapability or
detection limit as it was performed on conventional PCR-based method followed by detection
on the agarose gel. After that in 2016, the viral load was still the same as before and the
patient remained positive for the virus which was genotype 3a. After partial genome
sequencing of NS5B, the blast analysis showed 93% similarity to the already existing NS5B
nucleotide sequences in the GenBank database. This showed them the virus was of genotype
3a with accession number KY971494; variant ‘PK1-RV’ in the GenBank database. Analysis
further confirmed that the variant PK1-RV is distinct from the HCV genotypes 3k, 3b, 1a and
1b. The doctors took the medical history of the patient and performed restriction fragment
length polymorphism RFLP for interleukin 28b (IL28B) at rs8099917 and rs12979860. The
present study showed them polymorphism cytosine and thymine CT    and guanine and
thymine GT at rs12978960, rs 8099917 respectively. Yang et al linked the same
polymorphism with a successful treatment outcome that is acheived SVR. Recently the
doctors reported a multi drug-resistant HCV infected patient with the same genotype
genotype 3a and its association with IL28B polymorphism, after an ultrasound examination
showed that patients liver was in normal size, shape and echo texture with no focal lesion.
After a sovaldi plus ribavirin treatment the doctors observed higher viremiain the blood even
though there was favourable virus and host genetic factor ie. IL28B polymorphism CT and
GT at rs12978960 and rs8099917 respectively and ALT in normal range.
                Sezaki et al conducted a study to determine the impact of IL28B polymorphism on
SVR in patients on a ledipasvir/SOF regimen in the past and observed that genotypes GT and
CT were associated with lower response rate to the antiviral treatment regimen. The most
favourable polymorphism in relation to responsiveness to therapy is cytosine-cytosine CC
which has been reported to have nearly 2x a higher likelihood of attaining SVR compared to
patients with a cytosine-thymine CT or thymine-thymine TT genotype. And it was also
reported that polymorphism in IL28B rs12979860 is strongly associated with the response
rate to the antiviral treatment regimen. In the current study today, the patient tolerated the
SOF and RBV combination therapy very well but he still failed to achieve SVR. Ali et al also
conducted a review of the treatment response rates in Pakistani HCV-infected patients and
came to a conclusion that IFN plus RBV combination therapies have SVR rates of 64.38-
68.38%. Now oral treatment against all HCV genotypes in the majority of patients is now
possible due to the availability of a number of highly effective IFN-free regimens. Kowdley
et al performed a multicenter study and reported that SOF was safe and with rare viral
breakthrough during treatment and lesser drug interactions. Akhter et al conducted the first
study and reported SVR rates of 85.5% to RBV plus SOF combination therapy (n=502;
genotype 3a). Over the years patients with HCV genotype 3a have been reported to have
lower response rates to SOF and RBV therapy than those infected with genotype 2. A
combined therapy of the right doses of RBV and SOF for 6 months is a very effective
treatment for HCV-3.
• Conclusions
                          In the case of the Pakistan patient infected with Hepatitis C genotype 3a, he was
mildly favoured after the therapies due to a phylogenetic analysis that showed a distinct 3a
genotype. It was observed that the sequence of this particular viral genetic factor was much
more evolutionary diverse on the basis of an increased branched length of the node in the
phylogenetic tree. Therefore, it was concluded that mutation in the viral genome and host
genetic factor (CT at locus rs12978960 and GT at rs8099917) could have been responsible
for the patient not responding to the therapies. The doctors then had to administer up to three
therapies of RBV + INF + SOF/Boceprevir or RBV + BRF + SOF) which in some cases
effective in non-responding patients. It is also suggested to use a combined therapy of Olysio
and SOF for treatment. Further studies should be conducted to understand the possible
mechanisms of viral non-responsiveness to therapy regimens.
                          The above mentioned treatment plan is specific for genotype 3a but worldwide
the treatment plan available for HCV in general. In summary Hepatitis C is curable and is not
a death sentence if you are determined to get treated.
https://idpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40249-018-0386-7
 PROGNOSIS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEPATITIS C
The prognosis for someone with hep c depends on various factors which includes the severity
of infection, the individuals overall health and whether they receive treatment.
In many cases people with hep c may not experience symptoms and the virus may be detected
through routine blood tests and then there are those who experience symptoms like fatigue,
nausea, loss of appetite. Joint pain, and abdominal discomfort and if left untreated can lead to
serious complications such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. However, with
early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the risk of developing these complications can be
significantly reduced.
It's important to note that while treatment for hepatitis C can be highly effective, it can also
be expensive and have side effects. Additionally, some people may not respond to treatment,
particularly if they have advanced liver disease.
Overall, the prognosis for someone with hepatitis C has greatly improved in recent years with
the availability of highly effective treatments. However, it's important for individuals with
hepatitis C to work closely with their healthcare providers to develop a treatment plan and
manage their condition to prevent serious complications.
Here are some references to further explore this topic
1. 1. American Liver Foundation. (2021). Hepatitis C. Retrieved from
https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/hepatitis-c/
2. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Hepatitis C questions and
answers for health professionals. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
3. 3. Ghany, M. G., Morgan, T. R., & AASLD-IDSA Hepatitis C Guidance Panel.
(2014). Hepatitis C guidance: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and
treating adults infected with hepatitis C virus. Hepatology, 60(5), 1337-1352.
4. 4. World Health Organization. (2019). Hepatitis C. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
According to NIDDK, "The prognosis for people with chronic hepatitis C varies widely,
depending on factors such as the amount of virus in the body, the presence of other medical
conditions, and the person's age and overall health. In some people, chronic hepatitis C can
lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. However, with recent advances in treatment,
most people with hepatitis C can be cured and the risk of long-term complications greatly
reduced" (NIDDK, 2021).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2021). Hepatitis C.
Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/
hepatitis-c

MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C

Research has shown us that receiving a diagnosis of hepatitis C can lead to feelings of
anxiety, fear and depression in some people. Going through the treatment for hepatitis C can
also be a challenging experience both physically and emotionally. It causes side effects such
as fatigue, nausea and depression which can negatively impact a persons mental health. For
some individuals the treatment of hepatitis C can have a positive effect on mental health and
some of these impacts include improved quality of life and decreased anxiety and depression
symptoms.
It is important for individuals with hepatitis C to receive support and resources to address any
mental health issues one may face and it can be counselling, support groups and medication if
needed.
* World Health Organization. (2021). Hepatitis C. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
* Butt, G., Paterson, B. L., McGuinness, L. K., & Waddell, A. J. (2016). Coping with
hepatitis C treatment: the patient's perspective. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 25(9-10), 1366-
1375.
* Kontos, E., Blake, K. D., Chou, W. Y. S., & Prestin, A. (2013). Predictors of hepatitis C
knowledge improvement in patients participating in a viral hepatitis health education
intervention. Journal of Health Communication, 18(8), 902-919.
1. * Rahman, M., Kraus, M. R., & Wojnar, M. (2019). The impact of mental health on
patient adherence to hepatitis C treatment: a systematic review. Journal of Public Health,
27(2), 207-216.
2. IMPACT OF HEPATITIS C ON A PERSON’S SOCIAL LIFE
3. Hepatitis C can have an impact on a person’s social life in such a way that person may
face stigma and discrimination. This stigma can come from both the general public and from
healthcare providers. They may also be scared to disclose the diagnosis to friends and family
due to fear of judgement and rejection.
4. Additionally, hepatitis C can be associated with behaviors such as injecting drug use
or having a history of incarceration, which can further stigmatize individuals and affect their
social interactions. This can lead to isolation, low self-esteem, and decreased quality of life.
5. It's important for healthcare providers to address stigma and discrimination associated
with hepatitis C and provide support and resources for individuals to cope with the social
impact of the disease.
6. References:
7. * Arora, S., Peters, M. G., & Fried, M. W. (2015). Social stigma and hepatitis C virus
infection. Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, 3(3), 201-207.
8. * Campbell, R. A., Goldberg, D. J., & Hickman, M. (2015). Hepatitis C virus
infection and injecting drug use: The social context and social consequences of stigma.
Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 22(Suppl 1), 27-32.
9. * Cooper, C. L., Cameron, D. W., & Hellard, M. (2015). The hepatitis C virus and
injecting drug use: A narrative review of key social science themes. The International Journal
of Drug Policy, 26(11), 1079-1089.

WHAT SUPPORT DO THE PERSON NEED

Individuals with hepatitis C may require various forms of support to move forward,
depending on their specific needs and circumstances. Here are some potential types of
support and resources that may be helpful:
1. * Medical treatment: People with hepatitis C may require antiviral treatment to cure
the infection. This can involve medications that are taken for several months, as well as
regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor progress and side effects.
2. * Emotional support: The diagnosis of hepatitis C can be stressful and emotionally
challenging. Many people benefit from counseling or therapy to help them cope with the
diagnosis, manage stress, and improve mental health. Peer support groups can also provide a
valuable source of emotional support and information.
3. * Lifestyle changes: Some people with hepatitis C may need to make changes to their
lifestyle to manage their condition. This could include avoiding alcohol and certain
medications that can be harmful to the liver, getting regular exercise, and eating a healthy
diet.
4. * Financial support: Medical treatment for hepatitis C can be expensive, and some
individuals may require financial assistance to access care. Resources such as government
healthcare programs, nonprofit organizations, and patient assistance programs may be able to
help with the cost of treatment and related expenses.
References:
1. * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Hepatitis C Questions and
Answers for Health Professionals. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/hcvfaq.htm
2. * World Health Organization. (2021). Hepatitis C.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c
3. * American Liver Foundation. (2021). Hepatitis C. https://liverfoundation.org/for-
patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/hepatitis-c/
4. * U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Financial Assistance for
Hepatitis C Treatment. https://www.hhs.gov/hepatitis/learn-about-viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-c-
resources-for-professionals/financial-assistance-for-hepatitis-c-treatment/index.html