Is it true that hepatitus-c can become in-active as a person get's older?!
Question: Is it true that hepatitus-c can become in-active as a person get's older!?
My 25 year old daughter has hep-c and it would be nice to know if that were really the case!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
No, if it were to become inactive, then hepatitis C wouldn't be the major worldwide health problem that it is!. If a person's Hepatitis c (HCV) were to become "inactive", that is to say that the person's own immune system would clear the virus, that only happens in the acute phase, or within the first 6 months usually!. However, it is rare that this happens; only about 20% or so of the people that are infected with HCV clear it on their own!. The rest go on to have chronic HCV!. A common myth that people wrongly believe is that HCV is inactive or "dormant" because they don't feel any symptoms!. What actually happens is the liver is being silently attacked by the virus!. And since the liver is such a tough organ, it takes LOTS of damage before it starts to give off signs!. Some people don't even know they have had hepatitis C for decades until their liver begins to fail!. Then they are shocked to find out all those years of drinking alcohol, taking over the counter meds & prescriptions has added to the damage caused by the virus!. That's why early detection and lifestyle changes are important to keep the liver functioning!. There is also a treatment for HCV, too!. It is effective in 50-80% or more of the people who try it, depending on what genotype they have!.
By the way, to find out if your daughter's HCV is inactive, she needs to have a viral load test (called a PCR)!. If that test comes back undetectable, then she does not have active HCV!. If it comes back with any number, such as 800,000 or 5 million, for example, then the test has detected active viral particles and she does have chronic HCV!. Hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
By the way, to find out if your daughter's HCV is inactive, she needs to have a viral load test (called a PCR)!. If that test comes back undetectable, then she does not have active HCV!. If it comes back with any number, such as 800,000 or 5 million, for example, then the test has detected active viral particles and she does have chronic HCV!. Hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Although I don't know if age is a factor, I know that with treatment, some people do clear the Hep C virus from their blood!. Type and length of treatment would depend on the genotype or strain of Hep C that a person has!. Some types are more difficult to treat than others!. Also note that once a person has Hepatitis, they will always have the Hepatitis antibodies in their blood, even if they are able to clear the virus with treatment!.Www@Answer-Health@Com