Hepatitis C: Difference between revisions

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Hepatitis C has had major recent advancement in the treatment of the infection. In the past doctors would give shots of interferon (a protein), to help fight the [[immune system]]. These shots have a fifty percent success rate. Today there are pills called Sofosbuvir that do not include interferons. <ref name= web/> These pills are easy to take, and have a ninety percent cure rate. Although all of these factors sound great the price is extremely expensive. Taking one of these pills a day costs over $1000. <ref name= pharmacy> times [https://www.pharmacytimes.com/resource-centers/hepatitisc/will-hepatitis-c-virus-medicaton-costs-drop-in-the-years-ahead Will Hepatitis C costs drop in years ahead] .web. 8 February, 2017 (date of publication) </ref> Some insurances do not want to pay for these pills, and there has been lawsuits; also people are upset that some countries don't charge nearly as much as the United States for these pills, but that is a separate discussion. There are also some other ways doctors treat Hepatitis C. Depending on the patient they may require a physical exam, where they check if swelling has occurred in the legs, or they check of changing skin colors. Some doctors might propose a blood test. They may have screenings to check for antibodies in the blood, if your results turn negative you have not had Hepatitis C, while if you are positive you go through another step. This is called an RNA test; these tests shows doctors amount of virus contained in the blood. [[Genotype]] test may be taken to discover what type of Hepatitis C you are diagnosed with. If you have Chronic Hepatitis C more tests will be added on, and finally the patient will receive the proper medicine.