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Is there any treatment for Hepatitis C?

Dr Irwin Ziment
Professor of Medicine,
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA

Q: I am a 48 years old woman suffering with Hepatitis C (positive) for the last 5 years. I consulted a doctor with the blood report but he did not prescribe any medicine and asked for regular monthly SGPT test. Presently, the blood report of SGPT varies between 45 and 60. I am not taking any medicine till date. I am having a thyroid problem too. What precautions should I take? Is any medicine required?

A:There is no cure for hepatitis C and the only instruction to the patient is to avoid as much as possible in taking liver damaging foods such as alcohol and drug such as Paracetamol. It is also important that patients remember that disease can be transmitted to those in contact. This situation should be periodically followed by physicians or responsible help authorities since this is a contagious disease in close contacts. Needle misuse is a particular concern and patients should be followed to determine whether HIV is present or rather potential risk for this disease to others as well as to the patient’s progress of a potentially severe progress of this disease.