Hepatitis

I am 35 years old, and I suffer from hepatitis C. The doctors advised me to treat interferon. Does this treatment work and does it have any side effects? Thank you.

Interferon is a natural protein that prevents viruses from reproducing. People with hepatitis B and C are unable to produce enough of this protein to counteract the hepatitis virus, so synthetic forms of interferon are injected to raise its level in the body. Indeed, the interferon drugs interferon alpha-2b (Intron), interferon alpha-2a (Roferon-A) and interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen), are currently the best treatment for hepatitis C. It is considered more effective if given in the early stages of the disease. Although interferon can reduce viral levels, it is rarely successful in eliminating the virus completely. In some cases, the drug moves the virus from an active state to a sluggish state, significantly easing the disease. However, in almost all cases, the virus recurs, which requires further treatment. Due to the side effects of the drug, it is not recommended for those with a history of major depression, hyperthyroidism, low blood cell count, autoimmune disease, or those who abuse alcohol or drugs. Side effects include flu-like symptoms, fatigue and depression, as well as a decrease in White blood cell count and platelet count. To increase the effectiveness of the drug, interferon is combined with the oral antiviral drug ribavirin (Rebetron, Virazole).

nicotine patches

Can nicotine patches be used to treat ulcerative colitis?

In clinical trials, nicotine skin patches (the same ones that smokers use) have been shown to temporarily stop the irritation of ulcerative colitis (not Crohn’s disease). This discovery was made as some people with this disease reported that they noticed the symptoms for the first time after they quit smoking. According to studies, nicotine relieves symptoms in 4 out of 10 people with ulcerative colitis who use nicotine patches for four weeks. However, its effectiveness is limited to the short term, as symptoms return after a while in most patients.

As for how nicotine works, it is not clear, and researchers believe that it protects the colon by increasing the thickness and amount of mucus secretion that covers the lining that is usually prone to inflammation, and nicotine would also reduce inflammation itself.

Ulcers

What are the causes of stomach ulcers, although I took the necessary treatment and completely recovered from it, but it came back to me again.

Approximately 90% of cases of peptic ulcers heal within one to three months. Sores that do not heal are called recalcitrant ulcers, and there are many reasons why ulcers fail to heal. Failure to follow the doctor’s instructions in treatment is one reason, and another reason is that some types of Heliobacter pylori bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, in addition to other factors that may interfere with the healing process, including regular use of tobacco, alcohol, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in some Sometimes the problem is occasional, as some patients are unaware that the medication they are taking contains a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

In rare cases, gastric ulcers are caused by excess stomach acid or infection with non-Heliobacter pylori bacteria from other digestive diseases, including Crohn’s disease or cancer.

Treatment of stubborn ulcers generally includes eliminating factors that may hinder the healing process, in addition to stronger doses of ulcer medications. Sometimes additional medications can be prescribed and surgery is only used when the ulcer fails to respond to strong medical treatment.