Hepatitis B and C and the risks of self-treating with traditional medicine.

However, clinical practice shows that this complacency can lead to the virus going uncontrolled, silently damaging the liver and increasing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The case of Mr. D.D.M. (37 years old), admitted to MEDLATEC General Hospital, is a typical example. During a previous general health check-up, Mr. M. was found to be co-infected with both hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Illustrative image.

The test results showed a low hepatitis B viral load (355 IU/mL), while the hepatitis C viral load was very high, reaching 35 million IU/mL.

Immediately after receiving the results, the doctor proactively contacted the patient to provide advice and prescribed antiviral treatment according to the protocol. However, the patient did not attend the scheduled appointment but instead self-treated at home with traditional medicine.

After 4 months of using traditional medicine, test results showed that the hepatitis C viral load remained high (7 million IU/mL), while hepatitis B had decreased below the detection threshold.

Based on these indicators, Mr. M. was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and C co-infection. The patient was then prescribed outpatient treatment with hepatitis C antiviral medication, along with prophylactic treatment to prevent hepatitis B flare-ups for 3 months, and scheduled for a follow-up appointment to assess response.

If the hepatitis C viral load drops below the detection threshold, the patient will continue prophylactic treatment for hepatitis B for another 3 months before being retested.

According to Dr. Tran Tien Tung, a specialist in infectious diseases at MEDLATEC General Hospital, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the two leading causes of chronic liver disease.

Due to their shared transmission routes, co-infection with HBV and HCV is not uncommon, especially in high-risk groups such as injectable drug users or hemodialysis patients. Co-infection with these two viruses accelerates liver disease progression, increasing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Notably, co-infection diagnosis may be missed because some cases of hepatitis B exist in a latent state, where HBsAg is negative but HBV DNA is still present at low concentrations.

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, if hepatitis B is not adequately screened, the risk of HBV flare-up during HCV treatment is very high.

Mr. M's case shows that even though hepatitis B is temporarily suppressed, the virus can still reactivate if proper preventive measures are not taken during hepatitis C treatment.

From a medical perspective, self-treating viral hepatitis with traditional medicine without controlling viral load and liver function not only fails to alleviate the disease but also risks missing the "golden window" for treatment, allowing the virus to continue silently destroying liver cells.

Long-term consequences can include cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer, irreversible and life-threatening complications. Experts recommend that individuals with risk factors should be screened for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C immediately upon initial diagnosis of hepatitis.

For individuals with viral hepatitis, especially those with HBV/HCV co-infection, it is absolutely crucial not to self-treat or stop medication without a doctor's prescription.

Patients need to fully adhere to the treatment regimen and follow-up schedule, regularly monitor viral load, liver enzymes, and the degree of liver fibrosis; and also take measures to prevent infection to those around them, limit alcohol consumption, and avoid factors that are toxic to the liver.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/viem-gan-bc-va-rui-ro-tu-thoi-quen-tu-dieu-tri-bang-dong-y-d461025.html