Hepatitis C is an infectious condition, caused by the virus with the same name. It can be acute or chronic, with the severity ranging from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening complications, such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The condition can be a lifelong illness, with a negative impact on the quality of life; which is why you must use a Hepatitis C treatment tracker app to manage your treatment and potentially improve your outcome.
Recent statistics mention an estimated number of 71 million people worldwide, who suffer from this medical issue. A large proportion of these people will develop either cirrhosis or liver cancer. In 2016, almost 400.000 people have died from hepatitis C, with the above-mentioned complications.
Modern medicine has allowed for the appearance of antiviral medication, which can cure over 95% of those who suffer from hepatitis C. However, this infection is common in underdeveloped, poor countries, where the access to such treatments is reduced and the diagnosis is often made at a late stage. (R)
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Track hepatitis C effectively
CareClinic is a health app which was developed in order to help those who suffer from serious health issues such as hepatitis C. The application has a number of interesting features, being able to generate medication reminders and help one track current symptoms. It is a great tool for fighting hepatitis C, allowing one to keep an eye on the recommended treatment plan.
As you will read below, it can happen that hepatitis C does not cause any symptoms. Given this fact, it can be a true challenge to follow a complex treatment plan. The CareClinic health app is meant to increase medication adherence and offer additional support with regard to tracking one’s health. It serves as a pill reminder and much more, allowing effective treatment management.
Medication reminders for guaranteed treatment adherence
With such kind of support, people who suffer from hepatitis C find it easier to manage their condition in an effective and responsible manner. They use the medication reminder to follow their treatment to the letter. These reminders can be generated for each drug in particular, with one mentioning both the dose and frequency.
Such applications have been confirmed to increase medication adherence, helping some of the people who suffer from hepatitis C become cured altogether. For others, medication reminders help them stay on the right track and improve their health, feeling better overall.
Built-in health journal to document one’s condition
The CareClinic app comes with a built-in health journal, which can be used to track the symptoms of hepatitis C, as well as medication and potential side-effects and additional health information. One can record the weight on a regular basis and also the results of blood tests.
Dealing with a condition such as hepatitis C can be difficult from an emotional point of view. You might experience depression, anxiety or chronic stress. Depending on the severity of your condition, you might battle feelings of irritability, anger or frustration.
The journal can be used to release negative emotions and improve your mental health. You can make notes on life with hepatitis C, expressing your true feelings and acknowledging that you are in control of your own health. Many people find this type of emotional release quite useful.
App generates reports that can be shared with healthcare professionals
The information entered within the application, including the one from the health journal, details regarding your symptoms and health measurements, is gathered in the form of a monthly report. This can be printed or exported as PDF documents and shared with different healthcare professionals.
It is a big advantage to offer your treating physician an overview of your condition. You will no longer struggle to remember every little detail, and it will be of great comfort to be able to describe the effect of every medication, potential side effects, and other health-related data.
The physician can rely on the journal as a source of information, using the data generated by the application to assess the progress made by the patient and the treatment efficacy. In the situation that the therapy does not go as planned or the patient experiences discomforting side-effects, the treatment plan might be adjusted accordingly.
Hepatitis C Treatment Tracker App
Hepatitis C is caused by a blood-borne various, targeting the liver in particular. If no treatment measures are taken, one can develop cirrhosis or liver cancer. In this situation, liver transplantation represents the only option and the chances of survival are not as high as expected.
In rare situations, it can happen that the immune system will destroy the virus on its own. However, in the majority of the cases, a complex intervention plan is required, with a number of different drugs being given to the patient. The treatment might spread over a couple of months, consisting mostly of pills (in the past injections were also used); these treatments should be tracked in a log.
The virus, in the case of hepatitis C, is transmitted through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person. It is a common infection in those who share needles or drugs, but it can also be transmitted through unprotected sex, transfusions and from mother to child. A smaller risk of infection is encountered in those who use contaminated personal hygiene products, such as toothbrushes or razors (contaminated with infected blood).
Many people suffer from the infection with hepatitis C, without actually exhibiting symptoms. Given the fact that it is asymptomatic, it is often diagnosed when other investigations are made. Worldwide, millions of people suffer from a chronic form, with a high risk of cirrhosis, cancer and premature death.
Antiviral medication has reduced, however, the number of deaths caused by the hepatitis C infection and even managed to offer complete elimination of the virus. There is more than one type of hepatitis C virus, with each type having a distinct genotype.
As mentioned above, the condition appears as an acute infection, and it can progress to a chronic health issue. The severity can be mild, with the symptoms being present only for several weeks. Severe cases of hepatitis are the ones which are present long-term, often leading to complications. In 15% of those who become infected, the virus can disappear spontaneously, within several months from the infection (without any treatment being administered).
The symptoms of the infection with the hepatitis C virus can appear several weeks after the contamination. One might complain of nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, feeling fatigued, abdominal and joint pain. Between 75% and 85% of those who are diagnosed with acute hepatitis C will develop the condition as chronic, risking complications. Signs of chronic infection include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), retention of water, dark yellow urine and circulation problems (one might bleed or bruise easily).
Even though the infection targets the liver, it is essential to understand that other parts of the body can be affected. A common occurrence is vasculitis, which is the inflammation of the blood vessels (responsible for the circulation problems). Additional complications include chronic kidney disease, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, skin disorders, lymphatic system disease and other types of cancer.
The earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the prognosis is going to be. It is recommended that one goes to the doctor, in the situation that symptoms suggestive of hepatitis C are experienced. The same goes for the people who are at risk of being infected or those who suspect that an infection has occurred.
A simple blood test can determine whether the infection with hepatitis C has taken place or not. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, the doctor can recommend an adequate treatment and intervention plan. The main objective is to prevent or delay liver damage, as well as educating the patient on measures that need to be taken to minimize the risk of infecting other people. (R)
Is hepatitis C a treatable condition?
Even though there is no vaccine available for hepatitis C, the condition can be cured with the help of antiviral medication. The treatment for this infection has improved significantly in the past few years.
Two of the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C are pegylated interferon and ribavirin. These are administered in combination, preventing the multiplication of the virus within the body. In the past, the first was available as an injection, is administered once per week. Today, both treatments are available as pills, there no injections needed.
The treatment with antiviral drugs rarely causes side effects, it guarantees the complete elimination of the virus. It must be followed up to three months. A new generation of medication – DDAs – is meant to cure the infection up to 100%. They do not have discomforting side effects, as medication used to have in the past (depression, nausea, fatigue). The treatment with these can vary between two and six months, and the efficacy depends on the type of virus and the possibility of an early diagnosis. (R)
Hepatitis C statistics
- In people who suffer from chronic hepatitis, the risk of developing cirrhosis varies between 15% and 30% (within a period of 20 years)
- Sharing infected needles (drug abuse) is responsible for 23% of the new infections with the hepatitis C virus and 33% of the overall mortality
- According to the World Health Organization, there were new 1.75 million cases of hepatitis C worldwide
- Approximately 80% of those who are infected with the hepatitis C virus do not exhibit any kind of symptom (first noticeable symptoms are usually caused by the associated liver damage)
- Worldwide, there are 3.7 million people who live with HIV. Approximately 2.3 million people have also suffered or suffer from the infection with the hepatitis C virus (a significant cause of mortality). (R)
Hepatitis C Treatment Management
The team behind CareClinic works hard to improve the user experience, especially for those who suffer from long-term illnesses and rely on the application for regular monitoring. The main idea is to deliver an application that corresponds to the needs of its users.
The CareClinic health app is simple to use, with a friendly interface and plenty of beneficial features. It offers valuable support to those who suffer from hepatitis C, its benefits including medication reminders, health journals, monthly reports, and care plan creation.
On the journey towards recovery, one needs all the help he/she can get. Hepatitis C is a serious infection and it should be treated as such, especially if one stops and thinks about the potential complications. Applications of this kind can help one monitor his/her condition and the efficacy of the prescribed treatment.
