Hepatitis C virus - silent killer

The rate of hepatitis C infection in Vietnam is low, only 4-7% of the population, but is concentrated in people who inject drugs. This is the cause of liver cancer and liver diseases.

Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, Director of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that the rate of co-infection with viral hepatitis and HIV in Vietnam is currently 40-70%, almost the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Of which, chronic hepatitis B accounts for 15-25% of the population, hepatitis C is 4-7%. Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood, so the rate of co-infection with this virus in people with HIV is very high.

Free hepatitis C screening test at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: N. Phuong.

According to the World Health Organization, the incubation period for hepatitis C ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months. After initial infection, about 80% of people do not show any symptoms. Those who do have obvious symptoms may experience fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, gray stools, joint pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

Approximately 75-85% of newly infected people become chronically infected and 60-70% of these develop chronic liver disease; 5-20% develop cirrhosis and 1-5% die from cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis C is the underlying cause of 25% of liver cancer cases.

This is a virus that experts consider a "silent killer". Most people infected with this virus do not show symptoms in the early stages, and it may take decades until the disease breaks out or causes complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer before they know they have the disease.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, from December 1-15, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases will conduct free screening for hepatitis C virus. This activity will take place from 8am to 4pm every day, at the hospital's facility at 78 Giai Phong Street and Kim Chung Commune, Dong Anh. Test results will be returned after one day.

According to VnExpress