It is a disease that produces inflammation and an infection in the liver, which can be acute or chronic, causing very few symptoms (which can last for weeks) or no symptoms, as well as a serious condition that requires hospitalization. This disease is caused by the hepatitis c virus (HCV).
This virus is transmitted through blood, the main reasons for infection being: a needle puncture or injury with infected sharps, use of medical equipment with inadequate sterilization, blood transfusion and contact with the blood of an infected person with the eyes, mouth or any cut and organ transplants, where the donor has hepatitis C. To a lesser extent, unprotected sex and from mother to child are found as reasons of contagion, when giving birth infected with hepatitis C.
It is not transmitted through breast milk, water, or food. Nor by occasional contact, that is, hugs, kisses and food or drinks shared with an infected person.
Due to the symptoms of the disease, many of the people infected with the virus do not know it. But there are cases where other symptoms such as fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, upset stomach, grayish stools, pain in joints and skin, eye color, yellow and dark urine.
It is estimated that about 170 million people are affected by this infection each year, of which between 15 and 45 percent manage to eliminate the virus spontaneously, without the need for any treatment and between the remaining 55 and 85 percent fails to do so and develops a chronic infection, which due to the lesions it produces to the liver, most people can generate very serious health problems, such as liver failure, liver disease (the most common being cirrhosis) and even Liver cancer.
Although there is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C, different studies are being developed to find it. However, the infection caused by HCV can be attacked with antivirals, which are 90% effective, but access to diagnosis and treatment is very limited.
In terms of its geographical distribution, the virus has been found to be prevalent throughout the world, with Africa and East and Central Asia being the most affected regions. On the European continent, it is estimated that in Spain there are about 800 thousand affected people.
