Author: Dr Girish Gupta[1], Dr Dileep Pandey[2]
[1]MD (Hom) PhD
Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research
[2]BHMS
Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research
Address for correspondence:
Dr Girish Gupta
Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research
B-1/41 Sector-A, Aliganj, Kapoorthala,
(Near Novelty Aliganj)Lucknow- 226024
Phone: 0522-2326464,4004370
E-mail:girishguptadr@gmail.com
Website:http://www.gcchr.com
Abstract
Chronic infection with the Hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality.Well-diagnosed thirteen cases of chronic Hepatitis C have been treated with homoeopathic medicines at Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research, Lucknow (GCCHR) from December 2008 to October 2016. Out of them, viral load was reduced to below detection limit in three cases (23.08%), considerable reduction in viral load was recorded in six cases (46.15%) and four cases (30.77%) did not respond to treatment.
Introduction
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by single stranded RNA virus called hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver. [1] It is one of five known hepatitis viruses namely A, B, C, D, and E. [2] It has seven Genotypes and each genotype has different subtypes. [3] During acute infection, patients have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally it presents vague symptoms like fever, weakness, abdominal pain, and jaundice etc. The virus persists in the liver as a chronic infection in about 75% to 85% cases and produce no symptoms. [4] It, however takes many years to develop liver pathology and occasionally cirrhosis. Its late complications include liver failure, liver cancer and GIT hemorrhage due to esophageal and gastric varices. [1]
HCV infection occurs among all ages but the highest incidence of acute hepatitis C is observed in persons aged between 20–40 years.
Background
Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. An estimated 130–200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. [5] About 11 million new cases were recorded in the year 2013. [6] Its incidence is common in Africa and Central and East Asia. About 3,43,000 deaths due to liver cancer and 3,58,000 deaths due to cirrhosis occurred the world over in 2013 due to hepatitis C. [7]
No vaccine capable of preventing HCV infection is available so far. [8] There are certain claims by physicians of alternative systems of medicine having treated cases of Hepatitis C. [9] These are, however, neither scientifically documented nor published in journals with pathological evidence. However, two cases treated by homeopathic medicines have been published by Barbara Sarter et al in march 2012.[10]