Difference Between Chronic and Acute Hepatitis C

Hepcinat Plus Tablet

What is Hepatitis, and what are its types?

Hepatitis is the inflammation or swelling of the liver tissues caused by certain types of viral infections or chemical components. Hepatitis can also occur due to toxins or genetic disorders. If the inflammatory condition of the liver progresses, it can damage liver cells.

Hepatitis can be categorized according to the types of hepatitis viruses.

• Hepatitis A- Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease resulting from the hepatitis A virus. Although Hepatitis can disrupt your liver function, it is considered an acute Hepatitis C infection that can be cured within a few months.
• Hepatitis B- The Hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B. It is a serious liver infection that a vaccine can only prevent.
• Hepatitis C- Hepatitis C (Hep C) virus causes inflammation of the liver tissues and is highly contagious. The right treatment can only prevent the spread of the disease.
• Hepatitis D- Hepatitis D occurs only in the presence of the Hepatitis B virus. Thus, this form of virus (HDV-VBC co-infection) is the most severe type of hepatitis that cannot be cured.
• Hepatitis E- Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). It is a contagious disease found in the fecal matter of a Hepatitis E-infected person. Hepatitis is a long-term disease, and it is mainly spread through contaminated food or water.

What are the causes of Hepatitis?

Various forms of hepatitis viruses cause hepatitis. However, it can also be a result of other factors, which include-

• Alcohol consumption- Drinking alcohol in excess can scar your liver tissues which may, in turn, cause permanent liver damage.
• Drugs- The excess dose of certain drugs like NSAIDs, Erythromycin, Sulfa drugs, and certain painkillers are associated with Drug-induced hepatitis that can destroy your liver cells.
• Autoimmune disorder- In rare cases, the body’s immune system attacks the liver cells, which may lead to liver damage.

What is Acute Hepatitis C?

Acute Hepatitis C is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). This virus spreads when a person comes in contact with an infected person’s blood. Although acute hepatitis c is highly contagious, it is a short-term infection that can be treated with various medicines. Acute hepatitis does not cause noticeable symptoms, which is why patients are diagnosed with the disease quite later. But if the infection is undiagnosed, it can turn chronic, and you will start seeing some symptoms afterward.

What is Chronic Hepatitis C?

Chronic Hepatitis C is the progressive stage of Hepatitis C. It is spread through contact with the contaminated blood of an infected person. Chronic Hepatitis is a serious disease that can cause liver disorders such as liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

The initial days of Chronic Hepatitis C do not specifically cause any symptoms, but some symptoms may begin to appear after several months, such as

• Yellowing of eyes and skin
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Itchy skin
• Spider angiomas

What is the difference between chronic and acute Hepatitis C?

Acute Hepatitis C 

• Acute Hepatitis C is a short-term infection of the liver.
• The infection occurs within 6 months of getting infected through contact with the blood fluids of an infected person.
• Acute Hepatitis C is often considered a flu-like viral infection.
• If acute Hepatitis C is not treated within 6 months, it can lead to Chronic Hepatitis C.
• Acute Hepatitis usually goes away on its own. But medication is still required to stop transmitting the infection.

Chronic Hepatitis C

• Hepatitis C is a long-term infection of the liver that requires medical attention.
• When Hepatitis C (Help C) progresses to a chronic condition after 6 months of the infection, it is called Chronic Hepatitis C.
• Chronic Hepatitis C may sometimes be a terminal illness because it can completely damage your liver.
• Due to modern treatments, Chronic Hepatitis C can be treated to increase a normal life expectancy.

What are the treatments for Chronic Hepatitis C?

Acute Hepatitis C can be normally treated with medicine that intends to kill the virus from your body. However, chronic Hepatitis C is a complicated stage of liver disease; hence, it may require surgery (liver transplantation) if it is not cured with medicines. Patients may opt for a liver transplant only if they fail to recover from Hepatitis C with drug therapies. But certain medicines have been proven to cure chronic Hepatitis C, such as sofosbuvir, entecavir, glucaprevir, and Hepcinat plus tablet. These medicines can also be used with other drugs to treat severe liver disorders, like Hepcinat Plus Tablet (Sofosbuvir 400 mg).

Hepcinat plus tablet is an antiviral drug that blocks the growth of proteins from the blood, which increases the virus. The hepcinat plus tablet is often used with sofosbuvir or daclatasvir for treating hepatitis viruses. But the drug’s cost is expensive compared to other antiviral drugs. A single pack of hepcinat plus tablets may cost you around 9,000-10,000 or even more.