Hepatitis C
The
liver is a large reddish-brown glandular organ
located in the upper right portion of the
abdominal cavity. It secretes bile and performs
several important functions.
The
Hepatitis C virus is a blood-borne pathogen that
primarily affects the liver.
Hepatitis C virus contains RNA (Ribo Nucleic Acid)
as the genetic material in its core which is
surrounded by a fatty envelope.
In an
infected person, the virus enters the body,
circulates in the blood stream, and attaches to
liver cells. Once attached, the virus releases the
RNA into the healthy cells.
The
viral RNA then replicates itself hundreds or
thousands of times, making genetic material
required to produce new viruses.
These
new viruses in turn infect other liver cells.
Eventually this process shuts down most of the
normal functions of the liver cell and damages it.
Symptoms
of Hepatitis
·
Jaundice
·
Mild
fever
·
Muscle and joint aches
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Loss
of appetite
·
Abdominal pain
Hepatitis infection may continue for years,
eventually resulting in scarring of the liver
tissue called cirrhosis.
Hepatitis infection can also result in liver
cancer in the later stages.
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