Infection by hepatitis B and C viruses have a worldwide distribution. Both are entities that are acquired through the blood or sexually, they are usually asymptomatic, and if they are not detected in time they can cause chronic hepatocellular damage in the form of cirrhosis.

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Modes of transmission and patients at risk

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Being both blood-borne diseases, the groups at greatest risk are those who were transfused before 1990 because at that time 100% of these viruses were not known, patients who received solid organ transplants, growth factors, hemophiliacs, and people undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

Currently the control of blood products is very strict and perhaps the risk groups are restricted to people with promiscuity, drug addiction, multiple tattoos, and/or piercings.

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What patient should be treated?

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All patients with risk factors must have liver function tests, as well as a chronic viral profile that confirms or not the presence of the virus.

In case of being positive for them, you should go to the specialist to determine if, based on your laboratories and the current state of your liver, you are a candidate for treatment or not.

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Can treatment achieve cure?

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No, the virus is not cured, but having a virus that does not replicate implies no progression of the disease, which is the objective of treatment.

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Which is the treatment?

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For the C virus, the current treatment consists of pegylated interferon + ribavirin, the first being injected and the second oral, while for the B virus the treatment is oral with entecavir or adefovir.

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How should patients with hepatitis virus be monitored?

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In the case of a patient without the need for treatment, he should be monitored at least every 4 to 6 months with liver function tests to promptly detect any elevation of enzymes that conditions treatment.

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