First state to treat Hepatitis-C with oral medicine.

Haryana Social Aspects of state

Haryana the First State to treat Hepatitis-C Patients of all categories with Oral Medicine.

Facts :

The state government has included oral medicine in government hospitals which would be provided free of cost to permanent residents of all categories at the district level.
Haryana would be the first state where health screening would be done of everyone and 35 to 40 necessary tests would be conducted by visiting houses of all residents.
The full record of these tests would remain with the department
This is for first time, state government has included oral medicine in government hospitals.
The medicine and treatment costs about Rs 28,000 to Rs 30,000 in market, but state government will provide it free.
In order to provide alternate arrangement for injections to Hepatitis C patients, oral medicines costing Rs 10 crore were being purchased.
Special attention is being paid for hygiene of patients in hospitals as bed-sheets of seven colours for all hospitals are purchased for about Rs 5 crore.
Therefore, more bed sheets were being purchased and these would be change everyday so as to avoid possibility of spread of infection of any kind.

Hepatitis C :

Hepatitis C is a liver disease which is caused by the hepatitis C virus: the virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.
Acute HCV infection is usually asymptomatic, and is only very rarely associated with life-threatening disease. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) about 15-45 per cent of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus within 6 months of infection without any treatment.
The remaining 60-80 per cent of person develop chronic HCV infection. Of those with chronic HCV infection, the risk of cirrhosis of the liver is between 15-30 per cent within 20 years.

How does the infection spread?

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus and the most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. It is generally transmitted through the following ways:
Injecting drug use through the sharing of injection equipment
The reuse or inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, especially syringes and needles in healthcare settings
The transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.

Symptoms :

The incubation period for hepatitis C is 2 weeks to 6 months. Following initial infection, approximately 80 per cent of people do not exhibit any symptoms.
Those who are acutely symptomatic may exhibit fever, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, grey-coloured faeces, joint pain and jaundice (yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes).