What is hepatitis G?
Hepatitis G (HGV) virus, also known as GB virus-C (GBC), is a benign virus that infects people, but it has not been shown to cause disease. Although the virus lives in the blood and is genetically similar to hepatitis C, there is no indication that this would result in liver damage, such as other types of hepatitis. It was first discovered in 1995 and believes it infects between two and five percent of people around the world.
Hepatitis G is known to cause a persistent infection in 15 to 30 percent of adults for nine years. Many times infected people will not be aware that the virus is carrying because there are no symptoms. It is commonly found in coinfction with other viruses such as hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In fact, more than one third of people infected with HIV are also infected with hepatitis G.
Hepatitis G virus is transmitted by blood. Sharing personal care such as razor and toothbrushes infected with viruste disease as well as sexual intercourse, from mother to childAt birth, intravenous use of drugs or other blood to blood contact. The virus cannot be closed through saliva, sperm or body fluid other than blood.
Some people are at higher risk of contractual hepatitis G than others. Hemodialysis patients, drug -injected users and healthcare workers are exposed to blood regularly, are at the highest risk of infecting virus. Anyone who receives tattoos, acupuncture or body piercing is exposed to medium risk if the tools used are not properly sterilized.
Because hepatitis G has recently been discovered, there is no treatment or recommended treatment. Research on the virus is currently being carried out, but few are known to be except that it does not cause liver damage. Individual reactions to the virus will vary and so much therapeutic options. Gaining sufficient rest, consuming a balanced diet andHowever, avoiding alcohol and other liver irritants is recommended for the suffering hepatitis G.
According to several recent laboratory studies, hepatitis G seems to be promising. Patients infected with HIV and hepatitis G seem to live longer than patients infected with HIV themselves. Scientists believe that the virus prevents HIV from replication so often, thereby extending the life of the patient inhibiting the immune system damage.